WSSm 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

University  of  California. 

GIFT   OF" 

Mrs.  SARAH  P.  WALSWORTH. 

Received  October,  18Q4. 
^Accessions  No.  5^ glf+l.      Class  No. 


THE 


ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION 


A  TREATISE 

RESPECTING 

THE  NATURES,  PERSON,  OFFICES,  WORK 

SUFFERINGS,  AND    GLORY 

OF  JES^JS-ejIRIST. 


BY 


WILLIAM  S.  PLUMER,  D.D.,  LL.  D. 

ii 


Let  tw  make  a  joyful  noise  to  the  Rock  of  our  salvation.    Psa.  95  : 1. 

[TJIUVBRSIT7] 

PUBLISHED  BY  THE 
AMERICAN   TRACT   SOCIETY, 

150  NASSAU-STREET,  NEW  YORK. 


P6 


Enteked  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1867,  by 
the  American  Teact  Society,  in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District 
Court  of  the  United  States  for  the  Southern  District  of  New  York. 


/f*S>'  at  IHB 

[uhivirsitt; 

CONTENTS 


CHAPTER  I. 

Christ  All  in  All,  page  7:  opposed,  8, 17;  his  Names  and  Titles, 

10-13;  Christ  much  loved,  13;  what  God's  People  say  of  Him, 

18,  19. 

CHAPTER  IL 
The  Divinity  of  Christ,  22:  proven  by  his  Names,  22,  23;  by  his 

Attributes,  23-28;  by  his  Works,  28-34;  by  his  Worship,  35-38; 

Inferences,  38-40. 

CHAPTER  m. 

The  Sonship  of  Christ,  41:  above  that  of  Angels,  of  Adam,  of 
Believers,  41;  not  merely  because  supernaturally  conceived,  42; 
or  by  Designation  to  Office,  or  by  his  Eesurrection,  43;  or  by 
being  Heir  of  all  Things.  He  has  the  same  Nature  with  the 
Father,  his  Sonship  real  and  proper,  45;  eternal,  48;  more  than 
iiatorskip,  ineffable,  49;  long  held,  51;  proven,  53-5(5. 

CHAPTER  IV. 

The  Incarnation  of  Christ,  58:  how  effected,  59;  true,  61;  made 
under  the  Law,  62;  foretold  by  Prophets,  64;  often  declared, 
:  incomprehensible.  67-7G;  at  the  Right  Time,  69;  a  Great 
Event,  73;  perpetual,  76;  Inferences,  76-79. 

CHAPTER  V. 

The  Messiahship  of  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  80:  expected,  80;  proven, 
82-95;  Remarks,  95-99. 

CHAPTER  VI. 

EAXOB,  100:  what  the  Word  means,  100;  the  Ex- 

•  of  Christ's  Mediation,  101;  when  Mediation  is  admissible, 

I  of  it.  1D1;  Christ  fit  for  this  Work,  105-110; 

Ell  .110;  Cause  of  Joy,  117;  how  earned 

on,  117;  Remarks  117-119. 


4  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  VII. 

Cueist  a  Prophet,  120:  necessary,  120;  the  Office  honorable,  121; 
what  it  is,  121;  foretold  by  Moses,  123;  Moses  a  Type  of  Christ, 
126;  how  Christ  does  the  Work  of  a  Prophet,  130;  his  Teach- 
ings true  and  pure,  135;  complete,  attested,  practicable,  136; 
plain,  kindly  given,  137;  effectual,  138;  must  be  obeyed,  140. 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

The  Priesthood  of  Christ,  141:  much  spoken  of,  141;  Our  High 
Priest  is  divine,  141;  human,  144;  called,  146;  anointed,  145; 
sent,  146;  holy,  147;  after  Order  of  Melchizedek,  149;  made  a 
Fit  Offering,  151;  entered  the  Holy  Place,  153;  blessed  the 
People,  154;  is  unchangeable,  155;  Lessons  from  it,  156-159. 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Christ  a  King,  160:  Prophecy  required  Him  to  be,  161;  He  con- 
fessed it,  162;  often  so  called,  163;  has  Badges  of  Royalty, 
164;  a  Peculiar  King,  everlasting  and  wise,  165;  just,  166;, 
almighty,  167;  his  Kingdom  divinely  ordered  and  not  of  this 
World,  169;  his  by  right,  170;  universal,  supreme,  and  stable, 
171;  full  of  Energy  and  of  Mystery,  172;  Lessons  from  it,  174- 
178. 

CHAPTER  X. 

Christ's  Humiliation,  179:  the  Several  Steps  thereof,  180-197; 
Lessons  from  it,  197,  198. 

CHAPTER  XI. 

General  Views  of  Christ's  Work,  199-203:  Substitution,  203, 
Suretyship,  204;  Satisfaction,  206;  Sacrifice,  210;  Obedience, 
212;  Lessons  thus  taught,  214-216. 

CHAPTER  XII. 

Redemption  by  Christ,  217:  much  spoken  of,  217;  Verbs  used, 
217;  Nouns  used,  218;  Idea  of  Redemption  whence  obtained, 
219;  based  on  Several  Principles,  220;  harmonizes  Divine  Attri- 
butes, 225;  Christ  a  Fit  Redeemer,  228;  God's  Wisdom  in 
Christ's  Work,  232;  in  his  Sufferings,  233,  and  in  the  Effects  of 
Redemption,  234;  Cause  of  Joy,  237. 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

The  Atonement,  239:  Meaning  of  the  Word  Reconciliation,  239- 
242;  Theories  of,  242-244;  True  View  proven  in  Various  Ways 
by  Scripture,  215-252;  Consequences  of  denying,  252-257. 


CONTENTS.         -  5 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

The  Folly  of  Objecting  to  the  Atonement,  258:  Objection  First, 
259;  Second.  260;  Third.  262;  Fourth,  263;  Fifth,  268;  Testi- 
monies to  Eight  View,  269-275. 

CHAPTER  XV. 

Christ's  Resurrection',  277:  a  Vital  Doctrine,  277;  required  by 
Prophecy,  278;  who  raised  Him  up,  279;  the  Third  Day,  280; 
real,  281;  proven  by  Witnesses,  many,  283;  competent  284;  con- 
curring and  credible,  2S6 ;  Objections  to  Witnesses  frivolous, 
287-290;  the  Evidence  summed  up,  290-293;  Fruits  of  Christ's 
Eesurrection,  293-295. 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

Christ's  Ascension  and  Session  at  God's  Eight  Hand,  296:  Ascen- 
sion why  delayed  Fort}'-  Days,  296,  297;  Prophecy  required  his 
Ascension,  297;  is  taught  as  a  Fact,  298;  the  Place  of  it,  299; 
it  was  necessary,  301;  his  Human  Nature  ascended,  302;  the 
Manner  of  it,  303;  his  Session  required  by  Prophecy  and  much 
spoken  of,  305 ;  what  is  meant  by  Sitting  at  God's  Eight  Hand, 
306-310;  The  Effects  of  Christ's  Session,  310,  311;  Inferences, 
311-313. 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

Christ  in  Heaven,  314:  his  Life  is  deserved,  314;  immortal  and 
glorious,  315;  full  of  Authority  yet  loving,  316;  active,  317-323; 
the  Effects  thereof,  323-327;  Inferences,  327-330. 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

Christ's  Personal  Absence  from  this  World,  331 :  a  Grief  to  his 
Disciples,  331;  yet  it  is  right  and  best,  332-348;  Inferences, 
348-351. 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

Christ  on  the  Judgment-seat,   352:   sure,   352;   the  Day  of  it, 
:  Who  shall  be  judged,   359-362;  how  They  shall  be 
ju.:  164;  for  What  sliull  We  be  judged,  364-366;  Who 

shall  be  the  Judge,  366-368;  Inferences,  368-371. 

CHAPTER  XX. 

r  the  Good  Shepherd,  372:  his  Qualities,  372-379;  what 
Offices  he  performs  for  his  Sheep,  379  386;  Happy  Effects 
therof,  385;  Marks  of  his  Sheep,  386,  387;  Inferences,  387-390. 


&Z 


or 


«n  e*t 


6  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

Chkist  a  Physician,  391:  Sin  a  Disease,  391-397;  the  Kemedy, 
397-402;  the  Great  and  Good  Physician,  402-406. 

CHAPTER  XXII. 

The  Gentleness  of  Cheist,  407:  needed,  407-411;  Christ's  Char- 
acter, 411;  his  Covenant,  412;  God's  People  weak,  413;  dis- 
couraged, 414;  when  really  safe,  415;  his  Tenderness  to  them, 
416;  the  Feeble  cared  for,  417;  look  at  Quality  not  Quantity  of 
Attainment,  417;  obey  Christ,  418;  rely  not  on  Frames,  419; 
draw  near  to  God,  420. 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 

Christ  shale  yet  have  a  Glorious  Keward,  422:  Present  Stato 
of  the  World,  422-428;  the  Scriptures  promise  a  Change,  428- 
431;  some  Good  Tokens,  431,  432,  what  We  can  do,  432-437; 
a  Prayer  for  the  Success  of  the  Gospel,  437-439. 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 

The  Gospel  or  Christ  is  hid  from  some,  440:  Excellence  of  Pro- 
nouns, 440-442;  how  the  Gospel  is  not  hid  from  Us,  442-448; 
how  it  is  hid  from  Some,  448-453;  Kemarks  on  these  Truths, 
453-459. 

CHAPTER  XXV. 

The  Sin  and  Danger  of  not  believing  in  Christ,  460:  God 
always  spoke  against  Unbelief,  460,  461 ;  Classes  of  Unbelievers, 
462;  why  Unbelief  is  so  great  a  Sin,  462-474;  Inferences,  474- 
477. 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 

The  Keproach  of  Christ,  478:  often  mentioned,  478;  Case  of 
Moses,  479;  Ancient  Egypt,  479-484;  Moses'  Choice,  what, 
484-489;  Elements  of  Jlis  Choice,  489-492;  Its  Wisdom,  492- 
495;  Its  Cause,  495;  Inferences,  496-499. 

.     CHAPTER  XXVII. 

Conclusion,  500:  Union  with  Christ,  500-504;  Admiration  of 
Christ,  504-507;  Imitation  of  Christ,  507-512;  glorifying  Christ, 
512-516;  reigning  with  Christ,  516-519. 


&lin£r*- 


(TJHIVBESIT7] 
ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 


CHAPTER  I. 

CHRIST  ALL  IN  ALL. 

When  I  was  a  youth,  in  the  bond  of  ini- 
quity and  in  the  gall  of  bitterness,  I  fell  into 
distress  concerning  my  soul.  I  feared  I  should 
be  lost  for  ever.  Being  in  the  company  of 
two  Christian  ladies,  one  of  them  kindly  ex- 
pressed the  wish  that  my  impressions  might 
not  be  transient.  This  I  understood.  The 
other  expressed  the  hope  that  Christ  might 

be  to  me  all  in  all.  To  me,  whose  heart 
was  covered  with  a  veil  of  unbelief,  her  words 
were  as  the  srfcech  of  a  barbarian.  Yet  they 
made  an  impression.  From  them  I  learned 
that  some  persons  knew  a  secret  hidden  from 
me;  and  I  longed  to  learn  what  it  was.  I 
hope  I  have  gained  some  insight  into  it,  and  I 


8  THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

propose  to  present  some  of  the  views  I  have 
obtained. 

The  great  central  truth  of  the  religion  of 
sinners  relates  to  the  person,  character,  work, 
sufferings,  offices,  and  glory  of  Jesus  Christ. 
These  are  vital  in  Christianity.  As  one  is 
sound  or  corrupt  here,  so  is  he  substantially 
right  or  wrong  in  the  main.  Both  now  and  in 
the  last  day,  the  great  question  in  determining 
character  and  destiny  is  the  same:  "What 
think  ye  of  Christ?'7 

On  this  subject  the  controversy  is  old.  It 
goes  back  to  the  first  two  men  ever  born. 
Cain  and  Abel  split  on  this  point.  In  the 
immediate  family  of  Adam  the  strife  began, 
and  it  has  never  ceased.  In  the  days  of  Moses 
the  hardest  thing  to  be  borne  in  the  profes- 
sion of  the  true  religion  was  "the  reproach  of 
Christ."  When  Messiah  was  born,  the  strife 
was  resumed  with  more  warmth  than  ever. 
The  wise  men  brought  their  gifts  of  gold, 
frankincense,  and  myrrh  •  but  when  Herod 
heard  of  his  birth,  he  was  tr<Jubled,  and  all 
Jerusalem  with  him,  and  he  sought  the  young 
child  to  destroy  him.  And  when  Christ  be- 
came a  public  teacher,,  some  said,  He  is  a  good 
man  ;  others,  He  cleceiveth  the  people.     One 


CHRIST  ALL  IN  ALL.  9 

party  worshipped  him  ;  the  other  crucified 
him.  Even  when  he  was  on  the  cross,  the 
Spectators  were  divided — some  looking  on 
with  unutterable  grief;  others  wagging  their 
heads  and  deriding  him.  In  fact,  the  very 
thieves  who  died  with  him  were  not  of  one 
mind ;  one  reviling  him,  the  other  calling  him 
Lord.  On  the  day  of  Pentecost  the  contro- 
versy was  renewed  with  great  vigor,  and  with 
great  advantage  to  the  cause  of  truth ;  and  it 
has  been  kept  up  ever  since.  All  the  friends 
of  God  have  at  heart  been  on  one  side,  and 
all  his  enemies  substantially  on  the  other — if 
not  openly,  yet  secretly ;  if  not  by  profession, 
yet  in  practice.  For  eighteen  hundred  years 
a  large  portion  of  all  the  heresies  that  have 
arisen  have  related  to  the  person  or  work  of 
( "lirist.  Infidelity  is  most  bitter  against  Christ, 
while  piety  feeds  upon  the  truth  of  which  he  is 
the  sum.  Many  scoff  and  more  refuse  ;  while 
some  admire  and  adore.  Some  obey;  others 
cry,  We  will  not  have  this  man  to  reign  over 
us.  In  no  age  has  malice  against  Christ  been 
more  envenomed  than  in  the  present. 

Jesus   Christ  is  a  wonderful,  a  glorious 
person.     To  look  away  from  self  and  one's 
own  works  to  Christ,  is  to  lay  hold  on  eternal 
1* 


10        THE  ROCK  OF  OUE  SALVATION. 

life.  Safety  consists  in  fleeing  to  him  and 
abiding  in  him.  When  he  is  in  the  ascendant, 
the  night  flees  away,  and  the  morning  comes — 
a  morning  without  clouds.  His  names  and 
titles  are  as  important  as  they  are  significant. 
Every  one  of  them  is  as  ointment  poured 
forth.  His  lips  drop  as  the  honeycomb  ; 
honey  and  milk  are  under  his  tongue,  and  the 
smell  of  his  garments  is  like  the  smell  of  Leb- 
anon. His  people  sit  under  his  shadow  with 
great  delight,  and  his  fruit  is  sweet  to  their 
taste.     To  them  he  is  altogether  lovely. 

He  is  their  Advocate,  the  angel  of  the 
covenant,  the  author  and  finisher  of  faith.  He 
is  as  the  apple-tree  among  the  trees  of  the 
wood ;  the  alpha  and  the  omega ;  the  Beloved, 
the  Shepherd  and  Bishop  of  souls,  the  bread 
of  life,  the  righteous  Branch,  the  bridegroom, 
the  brightness  of  the  Father's  glory,  and  the 
express  image  of  his  person.  He  is  a  bundle 
of  myrrh. 

To  his  saints  he  is  and  is  owned  to  be 
Creator,  captain,  counsellor,  covenant,  corner- 
stone, a  covert  from  the  tempest,  and  the 
chiefest  among  ten  thousand.  He  is  to  them 
as  the  Dew,  the  door  into  tlie  fold,  a  days- 
man, a  day-star,  a  deliverer,  a  diadem,  and 


CHKIST  ALL  IN  ALL.  11 

the  desire  of  all  nations,  ranks,  and  genera- 
tions of  pious  men. 

In  their  eyes  he  is  the  Elect,  Emmanuel, 
the  everlasting  Father  and  eternal  life.  He 
is  a  Fountain  of  living  waters  to  thirsty  souls, 
of  joy  to  troubled  souls,  of  life  to  dying  souls. 
He  is  the  foundation  on  which  his  people  of 
all  ages  safely  build  their  hopes  of  heaven. 
He  is  the  father  of  eternity,  the  fir-tree  under 
whose  shadow  the  saints  rejoice,  the  first  and 
the  last,  the  first  fruits  of  the  greatest  harvest 
ever  gathered,  the  first-born  among  many 
brethren  and  the  first-begotten  from  the  dead, 

To  his  chosen  he  is  as  the  most  fine  Gold, 
a  guide,  a  governor,  a  glorious  Lord,  God,  the 
true  God,  God  over  all  blessed  for  ever.  He 
is  the  Head  of  the  church,  the  health  the 
hope,  the  husband,  the  heritage,  the  habita- 
tion of  his  people.  He  is  the  horn  of  their 
salvation.  He  rides  upon  the  heavens  by  his 
name  J  ah.  He  is  the  Jehovah,  the  inheri- 
tance, Judge  and  King  of  his  saints.  He  is 
their  light,  their  life,  their  Lord,  their  leader, 
(heir  lawgiver,  their' atoning  lamb,  the  lily  of 
the  valley,  the  lion  of  the  tribe  of  Juclah. 

lie  is  the  Man  Christ  Jesus,  the  master, 
the  mediator,  the  messenger  of  the  covenant, 


12        THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

the  minister  of  the  true  sanctuary,  which  the 
Lord  pitched  and  not  man.  He  is  the  mighty 
God  of  Isaiah,  the  Michael  of  Daniel,  the  Mel- 
chisedek  of  David  and  of  Paul,  the  bright  and 
morning  star  of  John,  and  the  Messiah  of  all 
the  prophets. 

He  is  the  Only-begotten  of  the  Father, 
full  of  grace  and  truth.  He  is  at  once  the 
root  and  the  offspring  of  David.  He  is  the 
Peace,  the  prince,  the  priest,  the  prophet,  the 
potentate,  the  purifier,  the  propitiation  for 
our  sins,  the  physician  of  souls,  the  plant  of 
renown,  the  power  of  God  unto  salvation,  the 
passover  of  all  saints.  He  is  a  polished  shaft 
in  the  quiver  of  God. 

He  is  the  Bock,  the  refuge,  the  ruler,  the 
ransom,  the  refiner,  the  Eedeemer,  the  right- 
eousness and  the  resurrection  of  all  that  walk 
in  white.  He  is  the  rose  of  Sharon.  He  is  the 
Seed  of  the  woman,  the  seed  of  Abraham,  the 
seed  of  David,  the  stem  of  Jesse,  the  Son  of 
God,  the  son  of  man,  the  shield,  the  strength, 
the  surety,  the  Shiloh,  the  sacrifice,  the  sanc- 
tuary, the  salvation,  the  sanctification,  and  the 
sun  of  righteousness  to  all  believers. 

He  is  that  holy  Thing  that  was  born  of 
Mary.     He   is   the   truth,  the   treasure,   the 


CHRIST  ALL  IN  ALk  13 

teacher,  the  temple,  the  tree  of  life,  the  great 
testator  of  his  church.  He  is  the  Way,  the 
well  of  salvation,  the  Word  of  God,  the  wis- 
dom of  God,  the  faithful  witness.  He  is  the 
Wonderful. 

His  person  is  one ;  his  natures  are  two. 
He  is  both  human  and  diyine,  finite  and  infi- 
nite, created  and  uncreated.  He  was  before 
Abraham,  though  not  born  for  ages  after  that 
patriarch  slept  with  his  fathers.  He  was 
dead,  and  behold  he  is  alive  for  evermore. 

On  earth  he  had  not  where  to  lay  his 
head  ;  yet  he  disposes  of  all  diadems.  By  him 
kings  rule  and  princes  decree  justice.  He  has 
the  arm  of  a  God,  and  the  heart  of  a  brother. 
To  him  all  tongues  shall  confess  and  all  knees 
bow ;  yet  learned  he  obedience  by  the  things 
which  he  suffered.  None  loves  like  him,  none 
pities  like  him,  none  saves  like  him. 

It  is  not  surprising  that  such  a  person 
lives  and  reigns  in  the  hearts  of  his  people. 
No  marvel  that  the  virgins  love  him,  and  the 
saints  praise  him,  and  the  martyrs  die  for  him, 
and  the  confessors  are  not  ashamed  of  him, 
and  the  sorrowing  sigh  for  him,  and  the  peni- 
tent lie  at  his  cross  and  pour  out  their  tears 
before  him,  and  the  humble  trust  in  him,  and 


14        THE  BOCK  OF  OUK  SALVATION. 

the  believing  lay  fast  hold  of  him  and  will  not 
let  him  go.  His  frown  shakes  the  frame  of 
universal  nature,  his  smile  gives  life,  his  pres- 
ence converts  dungeons  into  palaces,  his  blood 
cleanses  from  all  sin,  his  righteousness  is  the 
white  robe  of  the  redeemed. 

If  men  would  be, safe,  or  wise,  or  holy,  or 
happy,  or  useful,  or  strong,  or  victorious ;  let 
them  look  to  Jesus,  let  them  look  to  none 
else,  let  them  walk  in  him,  abide  in  him,  glory 
in  him,  and  count  as  loss  all  things  besides. 
You  may  look  at  the  law  till  the  spirit  of 
bondage  overwhelms  you  with  terrors  and 
torments.  You  may  go  about  to  establish 
your  own  righteousness  till  you  can  boast, 
and  sin,  and  perish  like  a  Pharisee.  You 
may  weep  till  the  fountain  of  your  tears  has 
gone  dry,  you  may  have  all  gifts,  understand 
all  mysteries,  bestow  all  your  goods  to  feed 
the  poor,  and  yield  your  body  to  be  burned  ; 
but  all  these  things  will  not  atone  for  sin,  will 
do  nothing  toward  regaining  the  lost  favor  of 
God,  will  not  make  you  meet  for  the  inheri- 
tance of  the  saints  in  light.  "None  but 
Christ,  none  but  Christ,  none  but  Christ,"  has 
been  the  cry  of  the  faithful  witnesses  of  all 
ages  when  truth  has  triumphed,  when  oracles 


CHEIST  ALL  IN  A-LL.  15 

were  struck  dumb,  when  sinners  were  con- 
verted, when  saints  shouted  for  joy,  when  the 
word  of  God  mightily  grew  and  prevailed. 

True  piety  begins,  continues,  and  is  per- 
fected, by  our  union  with  Christ.  We  are 
cleansed  through  his  blood,  we  are  clothed 
in  his  righteousness,  we  arc  purified  by  his 
Spirit,  We  meet  the  demands  of  the  law  of 
this  day  of  grace  when  we  walk  as  he  walked, 
and  have  the  same  mind  that  was  in  him.  In 
proportion  as  men  are  truly  pious,  they  make 
him  the  foundation  and  the  top-stone,  the  sum, 
and  substance,  and  centre  of  all  their  hopes 
and  rejoicings  before  God.  He  is  accepted  and 
believed  on  in  the  world,  not  merely  because 
there  is  no  other  Saviour,  but  because  his 
way  of  saving  sinners  precisely  suits  their 
case,  and  because  it  brings  glory  to  God  in 
the  highest.  The  true  believer  not  only  trusts 
in  Christ,  but  makes  his  boast  in  him.  He  not 
only  makes  mention  of  him ;  he  admits  none 
into  comparison  with  him.  To  all  the  ends, 
parts,  and  purposes  of  salvation,  Christ  stands 
alone.  There  is  none  like  him,  there  is  none 
with  him,  there  is  none  before  him,  there  is 
none  after  him,  there  is  none  beside  him.  He 
had  no  predecessor;  he  has,  and  shall  have, 


16        THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

no  successor.  He  has  no  vicegerent ;  lie  has 
no  assistant;  he  wears  an  undivided  crown, 
and  wields  a  perfect  sovereignty  over  an  undi- 
vided kingdom.  If  God's  people  exalt  him 
above  all  others,  so  does  his  holy  and  eternal 
Father.  If  they  crown  him  Lord  of  all,  God 
also  hath  highly  exalted  him,  and  given  him  a 
name  that  is  above  every  name.  If  they  sur- 
passingly admire  and  extol  him,  there  is  cause 
for  this  preference.  It  is  a  holy,  reasonable 
thing,  to  fall  before  him  and  cry,  My  Lord 
and  my  God.  If  he  is  the  delight  of  the  sons 
of  men,  he  is  also  the  delight  of  his  Father. 
Listen  to  the  voice  from  the  excellent  glory : 
"This  is  my  beloved  Son,  in  whom  I  am  well 
pleased.'7 

We  sadly  err  when  we  begin  in  the  spirit 
and  end  in  the  flesh  ;  when  we  regard  Christ 
as  the  Author,  but  not  as  the  Finisher,  of  our 
faith.  A  legal  spirit  is  the  bane  of  piety.  It 
is  as  great  a  foe  to  holy  comfort  as  it  is  to 
gospel  grace.  Through  the  law  believers  are 
dead  to  the  law,  that  they  may  live  unto  God. 
This  is  the  evangelical  plan.  Here  is  the 
secret  of  growing  conformity  to  God.  Here 
is  power,  here  is  life,  here  is  wisdom.  We 
are  complete  in  him. 


CHKIST  ALL  IN  ALL.  17 

In  the  wars  of  opinion,  the  greatest  con- 
tests ever  known  have  be^n  on  the  question 
whether  Christ  is  the  sole  and  sufficient  cause 
of  salvation  to  men.  Strange  that  any  who 
have  God's  word  should  be  at  a  loss  on  this 
subject.  The  language  of  Scripture  could  not 
be  more  clear:  "Christ  is  the  end  of  the  law 
for  righteousness  to  every  one  that  believeth." 
This  is  the  sum  of  inspired  teachings  on  the 
subject.  This  doctrine  is  quite  beyond  the 
suggestion  of  human  wit,  but  wholly  accordant 
with  right  reason.  The  gospel  is  not  the 
progeny  of  human  wisdom,  but  it  is  the  proper 
remedy  for  human  woes.  The  heart  of  man 
is  strongly  wedded  to  a  plan  that  will  not 
abase  pride  nor  silence  boasting.  Although  in 
regeneration  folly  is  so  far  cured  that  the  soul 
reclines  upon  Jesus,  yet  even  the  converted 
sometimes  fall  into  sad  declensions,  and  lose 
their  clear  and  lively  apprehensions  of  the  one 
way  of  salvation  provided  by  God.  Then  follow 
darkness,  dejection,  and  strange  perplexities. 
They  are  then  " bewitched/'  and  "obey  not 
the  truth." 

Christ  is  our  life  ;  severed  from  him,  we 
are  withered  branches.  It  is  only  when  Christ 
is  clearly  seen  and  cordially  embraced  that 


18        THE  EOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

our  peace  is  like  a  river,  and  our  righteous- 
ness like  the  wav^s  of  the  sea.  The  entire 
"Christian  race  is  run  by  pressing  towards  the 
mark  for  the  prize  of  the  high  calling  of  God 
in  Christ  Jesus.  All  the  acts  of  faith  are  the 
fruit  of  the  Spirit;  the  object  of  them  all  is 
the  person  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ ;  the  war- 
rant of  them  all  is  the  promise  of  God,  the 
offer  of  the  gospel:  and  while  they  utterly 
renounce  self,  they  bring  Christ  into  the  soul, 
the  hope  of  glory. 

Oh  that  men  would  learn  that  mount  Sinai 
is  far  from  Jerusalem,  and  that  Calvary  is 
hard  by  it.  The  nearer  we  are  to  the  law  as 
a  covenant  of  life,  the  farther  we  are  from 
Christ,  from  deliverance.  The  hosts  of  saints 
who  have  finished  their  course  and  gone  home 
to  God  all  found  in  themselves  sin,  guilt,  folly, 
misery,  and  helplessness ;  while  in  him  were 
hid  all  the  treasures  of  wisdom,  grace,  and 
glory.     Hear  their  sayings : 

John  Brown  of  Haddington  said:  "The 
command  is,  'Owe  no  man  any  thing.7  What 
a  mercy  that  there  is  no  such  precept  as  this, 
Owe  a  Saviour  nothing;  or  even  this,  Study 
to  owe  him  as  little  as  possible.  Oh  what  a 
mercy  that  my  admission  into  eternal  life  does 


CHRIST  ALL  IN  ALL.  19 

not  depend  on  my  ability  for  any  thing ;  but 
as  a  poor  sinner,  will  win  in  leaning  on  Christ 
as  the  Lord  my  righteousness  ;  on  Christ, 
made  of  God  unto  me  righteousness,  sanctifi- 
cation,  and  redemption.  I  have  nothing  to 
sink  my  spirits  but  my  sins ;  and  these  need 
not  sink  me  either,  since  the  great  God  is  my 
Saviour. 

McCheyne  said:  "Live  within  sight  of 
Calvary,  and  you  will  live  in  sight  of  glory." 

When  dying,  Dr.  Kevins  said:  "I  recom- 
mend Christ  to  you ;  I  have  nothing  else  to 
recommend. " 

Well  was  it  said  of  old,  "It  is  better  to 
die  with  Christ  than  to  reign  with  Cassar." 

John  says,  "The  testimony  of  Jesus  is  the 
spirit  of  prophecy." 

Peter  says,  "To  Him  gave  all  the  proph- 
ets witness." 

Paul  says,  "God  forbid  that  I  should 
glory,  save  in  the  cross  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ." 

This  subject  suggests  a  few  remarks  to 
two  classes  of  persons : 

*L.  To  Christians.  In  choosing  Christ,  you 
acted  wisely.  Exquisite  suffering  for  him  is 
better    than    exquisite    enjoyment    with    the 


20        THE  KOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

world.  It  is  better  to  be  a  prisoner  for  him 
than  a  prince  without  him.  To  die  in  Christ 
is  to  fall  asleep  in  Jesus,  and  be  for  ever  with 
the  Lord.  Hold  fast  your  profession  of  his 
name.  Stick  to  him,  stand  up  for  him,  live 
unto  him,  look  to  him,  be  ready  to  die  for 
him,  let  your  desires  centre  in  him,  let  your 
motives  to  holy  living  be  drawn  from  him,  let 
your  sorrows  be  sanctified  by  him.  let  your 
joys  be  heightened,  chastened,  sweetened  by 
him.  Keep  to  him  alone.  We  are  as  much 
bound  to  believe  that  there  is  but  one  Media- 
tor as  that  there  is  but  one  God.  1  Tim.  2  :5. 
None  else  can  do  us  any  good.  Devotion  to 
Christ  cannot  be  excessive.  Many  love,  and 
serve,  and  trust,  and  praise  him  too  little  ; 
but  whoever  loved,  or  served,  or  trusted,  or 
praised  him  too  much?  "There  is  no  love  of 
duty  where  there  is  no  love  to  Christ." 

2.  To  such  as  have  not  fled  to  Christ,  and 
are  yet  in  their  sins.  Will  you  not  embrace 
the  Saviour  ?  If  Christ  shall  not  be  taken  as 
your  surety,  you  must  pay  your  own  debt. 
Despise  not  his  cross.  It  is  the  life  of  men. 
By  wicked  men  it  was  designed  to  be,  surd  is 
still  esteemed,  the  seal  of  infamy,  the  badge 
of  ignominy.     Christ  crucified  was  to  the  Jews 


CHKIST  ALL  IN  ALL.  21 

a  stumbling-block,  and  to  the  Greeks  foolish- 
ness. But  see  to  it  that  ye  follow  not  their 
wicked  ways.  Come  to  Christ;  he  died  for 
our  sins ;  he  offered  himself  without  spot  to 
God,  a  ransom  for  many,  a  sweet-smelling 
savor.  Cast  yourselves  upon  him.  Believe 
in  him,  and  the  law  has  no  more  penal  de- 
mands against  you ;  believe  in  him,  and  God 
will  accept  you  in  the  Beloved  ;  believe  in 
him,  and  your  right  to  the  tree  of  life  is  at 
once  complete  ;  believe  in  him,  and  the  sting 
of  death  is  extracted ;  believe  in  him,  and  you 
shall  have  part  in  the  first  resurrection  ;  be- 
lieve in  him,  and  you  shall  have  boldness  in 
the  day  of  judgment.  But  reject  him  a  little 
longer,  and  your  heart  will  be  harder  than  it 
is  now  ;  reject  him  a  little  longer,  and  the 
call  to  light  and  life  will  reach  you  no  more ; 
reject  him  a  little  longer,  and  the  day  of  grace 
will  be  gone  for  ever ;  reject  him  a  little  longer, 
and  you  will  awake  to  shame  and  everlasting 
contempt.  "There  is  a  fearful  chasm  in  the 
heart  that  has  no  love  for  Christ." 


22        THE  EOCK  OF  OUE  SALVATION. 
CHAPTER    II. 

THE  DIVINITY  OF   CHKIST. 

The  design  of  this  chapter  is  to  state  and 
prove  the  doctrine  of  the  true,  proper,  and 
supreme  divinity  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 
His  Godhead  is  true,  not  fictitious ;  it  is 
proper,  not  figurative  ;  it  is  supreme,  not 
merely  superangelic.  None  is  divine  in  a 
higher  sense  than  the  Saviour  of  lost  men. 
The  proofs  of  this  truth  are  various,  multi- 
form, and  abundant. 

T.  The  names  of  God  are,  in  Scripture, 
given  to  Jesus  Christ.  One  apostle  says  of 
him,  "  This  is  the  true  God,  and  eternal  life.''1 
1  John  5  :  20.  Speaking  of  the  Israelites,  an- 
other apostle  says,  "  Of  whom,  as  concerning 
the  flesh,  Christ  came,  who  is  over  all,  God 
blessed  for  ever."  Eom.  9:5.  In  both  Tes- 
taments he  is  called  Immanuel,  which  means 
God  with  us.  Isa.  7:14;  Matt.  1:23.  Speak- 
ing of  him,  Paul  says:  "God  was  manifest  in 
the  flesh."  1  Tim.  3:16.  The  evangelical 
prophet  calls  him  the  "mighty  God,  the  ever- 
lasting Father."    Isa.  9  :  6.     Peter  says,  "  He 


THE  DIVINITY  OF  CHRIST.  23 

is  Lord  of  all."  Acts  10 :  36.  Paul  says,  "He 
is  the  Lord  of  glory."  1  Cor.  2:8.  Both  Isaiah 
and  Joel  call  him  by  the  awful  and  incommu- 
nicable name,  Jehovah.  Isa.  6:5;  Joel  2  :  32. 
Compare  John  12:41;  Rom.  10:13.  The 
Bible  styles  our  Saviour,  God,  the  true  God, 
God  blessed  for  ever,  Lord  of  all,  Lord  of 
glory,  God  with  us,  Jehovah,  Lord  of  hosts. 
This  language  is  used  by  prophets  and  apos- 
tles at  periods  long  separated  and  on  occa- 
sions very  diverse ;  some  before  his  birth, 
others  at  his  birth,  and  others  after  his  ascen- 
sion to  glory.  Surely  God's  word  thus  teaches 
that  he  is  divine. 

Lord  Jesus,  thou  God  over  all,  thou  Jeho- 
vah of  hosts,  be  thou  our  Friend.  Bless  and 
help  each  one  of  us.  Be  unto  us  a  horn  of 
salvation. 

II.  Divine  attributes  are  also  ascribed  to 
him.  Eternity  is  one  of  his  perfections:  "In 
the  beginning  was  the  Word."  John  1:1. 
John  the  Baptist  was  born  six  months  before 
our  Lord,  yet  of  our  Saviour  he  says,  "He 
was  before  me."  John  1:15.  In  prophecy, 
Christ  gives  this  account  of  himself:  "The 
Lord  possessed  me  in  the  beginning  of  his 
way,  before  his  works  of  old.     I  was  set  14) 


24       THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

from  everlasting,  from  the  beginning,  or  ever 
the  earth  was.7'  Prov.  8  :  22,  23.  When  on 
earth,  he  asserted  his  own  eternity  and  self- 
existence  :  "Before  Abraham  was,  I  am." 
John  8  :  58.  More  than  sixty  years  after  his 
ascension  from  Olivet,  and  within  eight  verses 
of  the  close  of  the  New  Testament,  Jesus  says 
of  himself,  "I  am  Alpha  and  Omega,  the  be- 
ginning and  the  end,  the  first  and  the  last.'7 
Rev.  22:13.  He  who  is  himself  the  Alpha, 
the  first,  the  beginning,  must  be  self-existent, 
independent,  and  eternal.  Surely  he  who  can 
truly  thus  speak  of  himself  is  divine. 

0  thou  eternal  Son  of  God,  thou  Father 
of  eternity,  remember  that  we  are  of  yester- 
day and  are  crushed  before  the  moth.  Bring 
us,  in  the  fulness  of  thy  grace,  to  behold  thy 
glory,  which  thou  hadst  with  thy  Father  before 
the  world  was. 

Omnipresence  is  another  attribute  of  God 
claimed  by  Christ:  "Where  two  or  three  are 
gathered  together  in  my  name,  there  am  I  in 
the  midst  of  them."  Matt.  18  :  20.  Christ 
could  not  thus  meet  all  the  little  groups  of  his 
worshippers  in  all  parts  of  the  world,  unless 
he  were  omnipresent.  He  claims  the  same 
perfection  when  he  says  to  his  disciples,  "Lo, 


THE  DIVINITY  OF  CHEIST.  25 

I  am  with  you  alway,  even  unto  the  end  of  the 
world."  Matt,  28:20.  If  this  promise  con- 
veys any  natural  and  obvious  sense,  it  is  one 
that,  beyond  a  doubt,  implies  the  omnipres- 
ence, and  therefore  the  divinity,  of  Jesus 
Christ. 

Blessed  Saviour,  who  art  everywhere  pres- 
ent, preside  in  all  our  solemn  assemblies,  large 
and  small.  Walk  thou  in  the  midst  of  the 
golden  candlesticks.  Be  thou  unto  us  for  a 
little  sanctuary. 

Omniscience  is  another  attribute  of  God 
belonging  to  Christ.  Peter  said,  "Lord,  thou 
knowest  all  things."  John  21  :  17.  By  his 
omniscience,  Jesus  declared  Judas  a  devil, 
even  wThen  he  was  unsuspected  by  any  of  his 
intimate  friends.  By  his  omniscience,  he 
convinced  Xathanael  of  his  Messiahship  and 
Divinity.  Two  things  are  wholly  inscrutable 
pt  to  omniscience.  One  is,  the  human 
heart.  Yet  we  are  expressly  informed  that, 
even  in  his  humiliation,  Jesus  "knew  all  men, 
and  needed  not  that  any  should  testify  to  him 
of  man,  for  he  knew  what  was  in  man."  John 
2 :  24,  25.  And  when  for  three-score  years 
the  Son  of  man  had  been  in  glory  he  said, 
"All  the  churches  shall  know  that  I  am  he 


26        THE  EOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

which  searcheth  the  heart."  Rev.  2  :  23.  The 
other  thing  unsearchable  except  to  God  only, 
is  the  Divine  nature.  Yet  Jesus  declares  that 
he  is  master  of  that  awful  mystery:  "As  the 
Father  knoweth  me,  even  so  know  I  the 
Father."  John  10:15.  Surely  he  who  thus 
knows  the  unsearchable  God  is  himself  God. 

Lord  Jesus,  search  us,  and  know  our 
hearts,  try  us,  and  know  our  thoughts,  and 
see  if  there  be  any  wicked  way  in  us ;  lead  us 
in  the  way  everlasting ;  and  reveal  to  us  the 
glorious  mystery  of  God. 

Immutability  is  another  perfection  belong- 
ing to  God  only ;  and  by  inspired  men  it  is 
ascribed  to  Jesus  Christ.  Having  shown  that 
this  earth  and  the  heavens  above,  with  all  that 
is  grand  and  solid  in  them,  must  pass  away, 
the  Scriptures  say  of  Christ,  "Thou  art  the 
same,  and  thy  years  shall  not  fail."  Psalm 
102.:  25-27;  Heb.  1:10-12.  The  inspired 
author  of  the  epistle  to  the  Hebrews  declares 
in  explicit  terms  that  "Jesus  Christ  is  the 
same  yesterday,  to-day,  and  for  ever."  Heb. 
13:8.  Without  profaneness,  we  cannot  ascribe 
unchangeableness  to  any  but  God.  Yet  Paul 
says  that  Jesus  is  ever  the  same.  Is  he  not 
Divine? 


THE  DIVINITY  OF  CHRIST.  27 

Blessed  Saviour,  we  rejoice  that  thou  art 
the  same  as  when  thou  didst  weep  at  the 
grave  of  Lazarus ;  as  when  thou  didst  pour 
salvation  on  the  dying  thief;  as  when,  in 
ascending  to  glory,  thou  didst  bless  thy  fol- 
lowers. We  rejoice  that  thy  state  is  changed 
and  thy  nature  immutable.  Oh  pity  and  bless 
us.  Be  unto  us  a  sure  foundation,  a  munition 
of  rocks. 

Beyond  all  doubt,  omnipotence  is  an  attri- 
bute of  God  only.  We  cannot  reason  with 
one  who  persistently  contends  that  almighti- 
ness  is  the  property  of  man  or  angel.  But 
God's  word  abundantly  teaches  that  Jesus 
Christ  is  omnipotent.  Surely  he  who  in  his 
own  name  raises  the  dead  and  subjects  the 
universe  to  his  power  is  almighty.  Paul  says 
Jesus  does  both  these  things:  "Our  conversa- 
tion is  in  heaven; from  whence  also  we  look 
for  the  Saviour,  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ:  who 
shall  change  our  vile  body,  that  it  may  be 
fashioned  like  unto  his  glorious  body,  accord- 
ing to  the  working  whereby  he  is  able  even  to 
subdue  all  things  unto  himself."  Phil.  3  :  20, 
21.  Surely  such  energy  is  omnipotent.  In 
Rev.  1 .  8,  Christ  thus  reveals  himself :  "lam 
Alpha  and  Omega,  the  beginning  and  the  end- 


28        THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

ing,  saith  the  Lord;  which  is,  and  which  was, 
and  which  is  to  come,  the  Almighty."  Nor  did 
Jesus  acquire  omnipotence  by  his  ascension 
to  glory.  Indeed,  almightiness  cannot  be 
acquired,  else  a  creature  might  become  God. 
But  even  in  his  humiliation  Jesus  said,  "What 
things  soever  the  Father  doeth,  these  also 
doeth  the  Son.  As  the  Father  raiseth  up  the 
dead  and  quickeneth  them,  even  so  the  Son 
quickeneth  whom  he  will."  John  5  :  19,  21. 
Jesus  could  do  none  of  these  things,  if  his 
power  could  be  resisted.  But  irresistible 
power  is  omnipotent  power,  is  divine  power, 
and  so  Christ  is  divine. 

0  thou  which  art,  and  which  wast,  and 
which  art  to  come,  the  Almighty,  cover  us  in 
the  hollow  of  thy  hand.  If  our  hold  on  thee 
is  feeble,  let  thy  hold  on  us  be  the  grasp  of 
omnipotence.  Go  forth  conquering  and  to 
conquer,  till  earth  owns  thee  Lord  of  all. 

III.  Those  things  which  can  be  done  by 
none  but  God  are  done  by  Jesus  Christ,  and 
therefore  he  is  God.  Such  is  the  work  of  cre- 
ation: "All  things  were  made  by  him;  and 
without  him  was  not  any  thing  made  that  was 
made,"  John  1:3.  "By  him  were  all  things 
created  that  are  in  heaven  and  that  are  in 


THE  DIVINITY  OF  CHRIST.  29 

earth,  visible  and  invisible,  whether  they  be 
thrones,  or  dominions,  or  principalities,  or 
powers  :  all  things  were  made  by  him  and 
for  him."  Col.  1:16.  If  by  creation  the 
Father  is  shown  to  be  truly  God,  by  creation 
also  we  establish  the  divinity  of  the  Son. 

Glorious  Redeemer,  we  all  were  made  by 
thee  and  for  thee.  We  own  thy  perfect  and 
sovereign  right  to  us  and  over  us.  All  we 
have  and  are,  in  soul  or  body,  belongs  to  thee. 
Xor  can  any  thing  dissolve  the  ties  that  bind 
us  to  thee  for  ever. 

Jesus  Christ  also  upholds,  preserves,  and 
governs  the  worlds  which  he  has  made.  Isaiah 
says:  "The  government  shall  be  upon  his 
shoulder."  Isa!  9  :  6.  Paul  says :  "  To  the  Son' 
he  [the  Father]  saith,  Thy  throne,  0  God, 
is  for  ever  and  ever."  Heb.  1:8.  In  one 
one  place  the  same  apostle  says,  he  "  uphold- 
eth  all  things  by  the  word  of  his  power." 
Ileb.  1:3.  In  another  he  says :  "By  him  all 
things  consist."  Col.  1 :  17.  Indeed  his  care 
and  superintendence  of  all  things  is  a  neces- 
sity; for  Paul  says:  "He  must  reign  till  he 
hath  put  all  things  under  his  feet."  1  Cor. 
15  :  25.  Thus  all  creatures,  from  the  smallest 
insect  that  is  seen  by  the  microscope  up  to 


30        THE  EOGK  OF  OUK  SALVATION. 

the  archangel  that  worships  and  ministers  be- 
fore the  eternal  throne ;  all  events,  from  the 
falling  of  a  hair  of  the  head  to  the  wasting 
of  nations  by  famine,  pestilence,  and  war; 
all  rule  and  authority,  from  that  of  a  petty 
official  to  that  of  thrones  and  principalities  in 
heaven ;  the  material  universe,  from  the  least 
particle  that  floats  in  the  sunbeam  to  the 
grandest  system  of  worlds  that  roll  in  immen- 
sity— all  hang  dependent  on  his  powerful 
providence ;  and  if  one  link  in  the  chain  of 
that  dependence  were  broken,  they  would  all 
rush  headlong  to  destruction.  He  always  has 
governed  this  world ;  and  he  shall  ever  hold 
the  sceptre  over  it,  till  his  last  foe  shall  be 
vanquished,  and  his  last  hidden  one  made 
victorious. 

Lord  Jesus,  who  upholdest  all  things  by 
the  word  of  thy  power,  bear  us  up,  bear  us 
on,  bear  us  through,  giving  us  the  victory  over 
death,  and  hell,  and  all  the  powers  of  dark- 
ness. 

Again,  redemption  is  more  glorious  than 
creation  or  providence ;  and  Jesus  Christ  is 
the  sole  author  of  redemption.  I  never  heard 
of  any  one  who  believed  in  redemption  by  the 
Lord,  who  did  not  ascribe  it  to  the  Son.     He 


THE  DIVINITY   OF  CHKIST.  31 

alone  was  fit  for  this  great  work.  Beveridge 
saya :  "Man  can  suffer,  but  lie  cannot  satisfy ; 
God  can  satisfy,  but  he  cannot  suffer  ;  but 
Christ,  being  both  God  and  man,  can  both 
suffer  and  satisfy  too,  and  so  is  perfectly  fit  both 
to  suffer  for  man  and  to  make  satisfaction  unto 
God.  And  thus  Christ,  having  assumed  my 
nature  into  his  person,  and  so  satisfied  Divine 
justice  for  my  sins,  I  am  received  into  grace 
and  favor  with  the  Most  High  God." 

Two  things  the  Scriptures  make  very  clear. 
One  is,  that  Christ  has  redeemed  us  from  the 
curse  of  the  law — that  salvation  is  by  his 
blood  and  righteousness.  The  other  is,  that 
for  this  redemption  Christ  is  entitled  to  the 
warmest  love  and  the  highest  honors,  and 
that  he  actually  receives  both  from  all  the 
redeemed.  The  Author  of  one's  eternal  sal- 
vation eannot  be  inferior  to  the  Author  of 
one's  earthly  existence,  and  so  ought  to  be 
honored  and  adored,  because  he  is  Divine. 

Lord  Jesus,  who  hast  died  the  just  for  the 
unjust,  set  thy  love  on  us,  wash  us  from  our 
sins  in  thy  most  precious  blood,  and  make  us 
kings  and  priests  unto  God. 

Moreover,  when  Christ  was  on  earth,  he 
claimed  and  exercised  the  power  of  pardoning 


32        THE  EOCK  OF  OUK  SALVATION. 

men  g  iniquities.  "Man,  thy  sins  are  forgiven 
thee" — Luke  5  :  20 — were  his  brief  and  sol- 
emn words  of  superhuman  authority.  He 
himself  tells  us  that  he  thus  spoke  that  we 
"might  know  that  the  Son  of  man  hath  power 
on  earth  to  forgive  sins."  Matt.  9  :  6.  In 
fact,  Christ  is  exalted  a  Prince  and  a  Saviour 
to  this  very  end,  that  he  may  grant  repentance 
and  remission  of  sins  unto  Israel.  Yerily  he 
is  God. 

Lord  Jesus,  spread  the  skirt  of  thy  bloody 
garment  over  our  souls,  and  grant  us  repent- 
ance and  remission  of  sins,  and  we  shall  be 
saved. 

Nor  is  this  all.  Jesus  Christ  shall  raise 
the  dead.  In  Deut.  32  :  39,  God  says,  "I  kill, 
and  I  make  alive."  In  Rev.  1 :  18,  the  Lord 
Christ  .says,  "I  have  the  keys  of  hell  and  of 
death."  Raising  the  dead  is  an  act  of  almighty 
power,  and  so  no  creature  can  do  it.  Yet 
Paul  says,  "In  Christ  shall  all  be  made  alive." 
1  Cor.  15  :  22.  "When  on  earth,  more  than 
once  Jesus  gave  life  to  the  dead.  He  spake, 
and  was  obeyed,  like  a  God:  "Lazarus,  come 
forth."  He  said,  "This  is  the  will  of  him  that 
sent  me,  that  every  one  which  seeth  the  Son 
and  believeth  on  him  may  have  everlasting 


THE  DIVINITY  OF  CHEIST.  33 

life,  and  I  will  raise  him  up  at  the  last  day." 
John  6  :  40.  Nay  more,  he  even  raised  his 
own  body  from  the  dead:  "I  lay  down  my 
life,  that  I  might  take  it  again."  ' 'Destroy  this 
temple,  and  in  three  days  I  will  raise  it  up." 
John  2:19  j  10  :18.  Truly  this  is  the  Son  of 
the  Highest,  and  may  fitly  count  it  no  robbery 
to  be  equal  with  God. 

Kind  Redeemer,  we  cheerfully  follow  thee 
into  the  grave,  in  hope  of  a  glorious  resurrec- 
tion. We  would  not  live  always.  In  the  last 
day  raise  us  up,  and  make  our  vile  bodies  like 
unto  thy  glorious  body.  Give  us  part  in  the 
first  resurrection. 

In  like  manner  shall  Jesus  Christ  judge 
the  quick  and  the  dead  at  his  coining.  He 
expressly  says  that  the  Father  hath  given  the 
Son  "  authority  to  execute  judgment  also,  be- 
cause he  is  the  Son  of  man."  Jonn  5  :  27.  In 
the  same  chapter  he  says:  "The  Father  judg- 
eth  no  man ;  but  hath  committed  all  judgment 
unto  the  Son."  John  5:22.  The  great  tribu- 
nal before  which  we  must  all  stand  is  "the 
judgment-seat  of  Christ."  Rom.  14  :  10.  In 
Rev.  1:7,  John  saysf  "Behold  he  cometh  with 
clouds,  and  every  eye  shall  see  him,  and  they 
also  which  pierced  him ;  and  all  kindreds  of 

2* 


34       THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

the  earth  shall  wail  because  of  him."  If- Divine 
perfections  are  required  for  any  thing,  it  is  for 
deciding  on  the  destinies  of  men  and  angels  ; 
yet  the  unerring  God  has  committed  this  judg- 
ment into  the  hands  of  Christ.  He  must,  there- 
fore, be  God. 

Lord  Jesus,  when  thou  comest  in  thy 
glory,  with  all  thy  holy  angels,  and  the  heav- 
ens shall  flee  away  at  thy  presence,  by  thy 
mercy  let  us  have  boldness  in  the  day  of  judg- 
ment. 

And  as  Jesus  made,  and  governs,  and  shall 
judge  the  world,  so  shall  he  destroy  these 
heavens  and  this  earth.  So  says  inspiration : 
"Thou,  Lord,  in  the  beginning  hast  laid  the 
foundations  of  the  earth,  and  the  heavens  are 
the  works  of  thy  hands :  They  shall  perish  .  .  . 
as  a  vesture  shalt  thou  fold  them  up,  and  they 
shall  be  changed."  Heb.  1 :  10-12.  Who  can 
do  this,  and  do  it  with  the  ease  with  which 
man  folds  up  a  garment  and  lays  it  aside,  but 
God  only?  Yet  Jesus  Christ  shall  do  this 
very  thing.     Surely  he  is  divine. 

Jesus,  our  Lord  and  our  God,  when  thou 
shalt  dissolve  the  franfe  of  all  sublunary 
things,  remember  and  spare  us  according  to 
the  riches  of  thy  grace  in  glory. 


THE  DIVINITY  OF  CHEIST.  35 

IY.  The  Bible  has  done  more  to  root  out 
idolatry  than  all  other  books.  It  declares 
that  idolaters  shall  have  their  part  in  the  lake 
of  fire.  Yet  this  same  holy  book  authorizes 
the  highest  acts  of  worship  to  be  offered  to 
Christ.  Faith  in  him  is  as  much  required  as 
faith  in  the  Father:  "Ye  believe  in  God, 
believe  also  in  me."  John  14  : 1.  We  are 
required  in  both  Testaments  to  embrace  him 
and  trust  in  him  on  pain  of  perdition  :  "  Kiss 
the  Son,  lest  he  be  angry,  and  ye  perish  from 
the  way  when  his  wrath  is  kindled  but  a  little. 
Blessed  are  all  they  that  put  their  trust  in 
him."  Ps.  2:12.  "He  that  believeth  not  the 
Son  shall  not  see  life  ;  but  the  wrath  of  God 
abideth  on  him."  John  3 :  36.  The  Scriptures 
never  require  of  us  to  rely  on  man.  On  the 
contrary,  they  say,  "  Cursed  is  he  that  trust- 
eth  in  man."  Jer.  17:5.  But  they  also  say: 
"There  shall  be  a  Eoot  of  Jesse,  and  he  that 
shall  rise  to  reign  over  the  Gentiles;  in  Him 
shall  the  Gentiles  trust."  Rom.  15  :12.  Yea, 
more:  "At  the  name  of  Jesus  every  knee 
shall  bow,  of  things  in  heaven,  and  things  in 
earth,  and  things  under  the  earth."  Phil. 
2 :10.  And  all  this  is  by  God's  command ;  for 
"when  he-bringeth  in  the  First-begotten  into 


36        THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

the  world,  he  saith,  And  let  all  the  angels  of 
Grod  worship  him."  Heb.l:  6.  Before  he  was 
born,  his  mother's  cousin  Elisabeth  by  'the 
Holy  Ghost  called  him  ;'My  Lord."  Luke 
1 :  43.  After  his  resurrection,  Thomas  ado- 
ringly said,  "My  Lord  and  my  God."  John 
20  :  28.  The  first  Christian  martyr  wor- 
shipped him,  crying,  "Lord  Jesus,  receive  my 
spirit."  Acts  7 :  59.  That  Jesus  receives  the 
highest  worship  offered  in  heaven  the  Scrip- 
tures clearly  assert:  "And  I  beheld,  and  I 
heard  the  voice  of  many  angels  round  about 
the  throne  and  the  beasts  and  the  elders ;  and 
the  number  of  them  was  ten  thousand  times 
ten  thousand,  and  thousands  of  thousands ; 
saying  with  a  loud  voice,  Worthy  is  the  Lamb 
that  was  slain  to  receive  power,  and  riches, 
and  wisdom,  and  strength,  and  honor,  and 
glory,  and  blessing.  And  every  creature 
which  is  in  heaven,  and  on  the  earth,  and 
under  the  earth,  and  such  as  are  in  the  sea, 
and  all  that  are  in  them,  heard  I  saying, 
Blessing,  and  honor,  and  glory,  and  power, 
be  unto  him  that  sitteth  upon  the' throne,  and 
unto  the  Lamb  for  ever  and  ever."  Eev. 
5  :  11-13.  No  part  of  God's  word  speaks  of 
a  higher,  degree  or  more  complete  universality 


THE  DIVINITY  OF  CHKIST.  37 

of  solemn  worship  than  is  here  said  to  have 
been  offered  to  the  Son.  Verily  he  is  divine. 
He  is  God.  He  has  supreme  divinity.  There 
is  do  idolatry  in  heaven,  yet  Jesus  is  wor- 
shipped there. 

0  thou  Lamb  of  God,  grant  us  this  one 
favor  —  to  worship  thee  with  true  devotion 
here  below,  and  after  this  life  to  unite  with 
the  heavenly  throng  in  ascribing  to  thee  bles- 
sing, and  honor,  and  power,  and  glory,  and 
salvation. 

The  foregoing  is  but  an  outline*  of  the 
argument  on  this  glorious  theme.  The  Bible 
is  full  of  it.  Sometimes  we  have  nearly  whole 
chapters  devoted  to  this  weighty  matter.  Such 
are  the  eighth  chapter  of  Proverbs  and  the 
first  chapter  of  the  epistle  to  the  Hebrews. 
Many  considerable  portions  of  several  books 
of  the  Bible  are  given  to  establish  the  same 
truth.  The  gospel  by  John  is  evidently  writ- 
ten chiefly  for  the  same  purpose.  The  very 
first  verse  may  be  taken  as  a  text  of  the 
whole  :  "In  the  beginning  was  the  Word,  and 
the  Word  was  with  God,  and  the  Word  was 
God."  Time  would  fail  us  to  dwell  on  each  of 
the  proofs  of  our  Lord's  divinity  found  in  this 
gospel. 


38        THE  KOCK  OF  OUE  SALVATION. 

Indeed,  we  may  with  Melville  say:  " There 
is  no  such  book  of  contradictions  as  the  Bible, 
if  there  be  no  person  who  was  both  human  and 
divine.  Nothing  but  such  a  combination  will 
make  sense  of  the  Bible,  or  rescue  it  from  main- 
taining a  vast  mass  of  inconsistencies.  Some 
may  think  that  it  would  simplify  the  Christian 
theology  to  remove  from  it  the  mystery  that 
two  natures  coalesced  in  the  one  person  of 
Christ ;  but  as  the  divinity  of  our  Lord  is  the 
foundation  of  our  hope,  so  is  it  the  key  to  the 
Bible.  We  acknowledge,  reverently,  a  great 
mystery,  but  not  the  thousandth  part  as  great 
as  the  whole  Bible  becomes  on  the  supposition 
that  Christ  was  only  man." 

1.  If  Jesus  Christ  is  divine,  he  may  safely 
be  trusted  with  our  whole  case.  He  will 
betray  no  interest  committed  to  him.  He  in- 
vites all  to  come.  He  welcomes  all  who  come. 
He  is  all-sufficient.  He  is  chosen,  called,  and 
ordained  of  God,  to  this  very  work  of  saving 
lost  men  who  seek  a  refuge  in  him.  A  pious 
man  once  said :  ■ '  If  I  did  not  know  my  Sav- 
iour to  be  Grod,  I  should  this  night  lie  down 
in  despair:  the  Scripture  could  in  this  case 
convey  no  comfort  to  my  mind."     But  He  is 


THE  DIVINITY  OF  CHRIST.  39 

divine,  and  we  may  safely  rest  the  whole 
weight  of  our  salvation  on  his  almighty  arm, 
and  trust  our  most  complicated  affairs  to  the 
solution  of  his  infinite  wisdom. 

2.  Faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  is  a 
most  reasonable  duty.  "He  that  hath  the 
Son  hath  life ;  and  he  that  hath  not  the  Son  of 
God  hath  not  life.77  1  John  5  :  12.  If  we  fail 
here  we  fail  utterly,  for  there  is  salvation  in 
no  other.  He  is  the  Rock.  All  hopes  not 
built  on  him  must  for  ever  perish.  Jesus  is 
set  for  the  rise  and  the  fall  of  many.  He  will 
be  to  us  a  rock  of  salvation  or  a  stone  of  stum- 
bling ;  the  shadow  of  a  great  rock  in  a  weary 
land,  or  a  rock  of  offence  to  the  unbelieving. 
I  have  long  since  ceased  to  marvel  that  Jeho- 
vah has  laid  such  stress  on  this  doctrine.  In 
their  measure  the  pious  do  the  same.  They 
all  cling  to  it  as  their  last  hope.  Oh  that 
every  man  would  ask  God  to  give  him  faith, 
saving  faith;  for  no  man  can  say  that  Jesus 
is  the  Lord,  but  by  the  Holy  Ghost.  1  Cor. 
12:3. 

3.  Will  you  have  this  Lord  Jesus  for  your 
Saviour?  Will  you  bow  your  head,  and  take 
his  yoke  upon  you?  If  you  confess  and  for- 
sake  your   sins,   he   is   faithful   and  just   to 


40        THE  EOCK  OF  OUK  SALVATION. 

forgive  your  sins,  and  to  cleanse  you  from  all 
iniquity.  Will  you  have  him?  You  need  him. 
You  need  him  now.  You  need  him  urgently. 
You  need  him  to  help  you  live.  You  will 
need  him  to  help  you  die.  You  will  need  his 
grace  and  mercy  for  ever. 


THE  SONSHIP  OF  CHEIST.  41 

CHAPTEE   III. 

THE  SONSHIP  OF   CHEIST. 

The  Scriptures  say  much  of  the  Son  of 
God.  Many  scores  of  times  is  the  Saviour 
called  the  Son,  the  Son  of  the  Blessed,  the  Son 
of  the  Highest,  or  the  Son  of  God.  Very 
often  too  have  we  the  corresponding  term, 
Father,  expressing  the  relations  of  the  first 
person  of  the  Godhead  to  the  second. 

The  Sonship  of  Christ  is  one  of  the  glori- 
ous mysteries  of  our  religion.  Angels  are,  in- 
deed, sometimes  called  the  sons  of  God.  Thus, 
in  the  only  reliable  history  of  the  origin  of 
our  world,  we  are  told  that  at  the  creation 
"  the  morning  stars  sang  together,  and  all  the 
sons  of  God  shouted  for  joy."  Job  38  :  7. 
Because  Adam  came  into  existence  without 
any  created  instrumentality,  but  directly  from 
the  hand  of  God,  he  is  called  the  son  of  God. 
Luke  3 :  38.  And  because  all  believers  are, 
by  the  Holy  Spirit,  renewed  into  the  image  of 
the  Most  High,  and  are  adopted  into  the  heav- 
enly family,  they  are  called  the  sons  of  God. 
Rom.  8:14;  1  John  3:1.    But  the  whole  tenor 


42        THE  HOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

of  the  argument  in  the  earty  part  of  the  epis- 
tle to  the  Hebrews  goes  to  show  that  Jesus 
Christ  is  the  Son  of  the  Father  in  a  sense  far 
higher  than  can  be  claimed  for  any  mere  crea- 
ture. He  is  preeminently  God's  own  Son, 
Rom.  8  :  32 ;  and  God's  dear  Son,  Col.  1:1$; 
and  God  is  preeminently  his  Father,  John 5:18. 
Some  have  maintained  that  Christ  was  the 
Son  of  God  only  in  the  sense  that  he  was  con- 
ceived by  the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost  in  the 
womb  of  the  Virgin  Mary.  In  proof,  they  cite 
Luke  1 : 35 :  "The  Holy  Ghost  shall  come  upon 
thee,  and  the  power  of  the  Highest  shall  over- 
shadow thee  ;  therefore  also,  that  holy  thing 
which  shall  be  born  of  thee  shall  be  called  the 
Son  of  God."  Should  we  admit  that  this  pas- 
sage teaches  that  Christ's  human  nature  was 
so  derived  from  the  Holy  Spirit  as  to  make  it 
proper  to  call  him  the  Son  of  God,  this  would 
not  show  that  he  was  in  no  higher  sense  be- 
gotten of  the  Father.  Nor  would  this  express 
his  relation  to  the  Father.  But  the  passage 
fairly  admits  of  another  construction,  namely, 
that  he  who  is  thus  miraculously  brought  into 
the  world  is  thereby  infallibly  proven  to  be 
the  Son  of  God  in  the  highest  sense  ever 
claimed. 


THE  SONSHIP  OF  CHEIST.  43 

It  has  also  been  maintained  by  some  that 
Christ's  designation  to  office  constituted  his 
Sonship.  In  proof,  they  cite  John  10:36: 
"Say  ye  of  him  whom  the  Father  hath  sanc- 
iified  and  sent  into  the  world,  Thou  blasphe- 
mest,  because  I  said,  I  am  the  Son  of  God?" 
But,  like  the  preceding,  this  passage  may 
fairly  refer  to  the  proof,  and  not  to  the  cause 
or  nature  of  his  Sonship  with  God.     One  text 

0  The  Son  of  God  is  come."  Another 
says,  "God  sent  forth  his  Son,"  Gal.  4:4.  He 
did  not  become  the  Son  of  God  by  coming  or 
by  being  sent,  but  being  the  Son  of  God,  he 
was  sent  and  is  come.  Many  other  texts 
afford  similar  proof. 

Others  have  said  that  Christ  is  called  the 
Son  of  God  only  because  he  rose  from  the 
dead.  For  proof  they  cite  Acts  13  :  33  :  "God 
hath  fulfilled  the  promise  unto  us,  in  that  he 
hatli  raised  up  Jesus  again ;  as  it  is  also  writ- 
ten in  the  second  psalm,  Thou  art  my  Son; 
this  day  have  I  begotten  thee."  But  this  pas- 
sage receives  its  clear  exposition  from  Rom. 
1 : 4,  where  the  apostle  says  that  Jesus  Christ 
our  Lord  was  "declared  [defined,  marked  out 
as  by  a  boundary,  determined,  that  is,  beyond 
doubt  proven]   to  be  the  Son  of  God  with 


44        THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

power,  according  to  the  Spirit  of  holiness,  by 
the  resurrection  from  the  dead."  In  other 
words,  Christ's  resurrection  for  ever  settled 
in  all  fair  minds  the  question  of  his  Sonship 
with  Grod. 

Others  have  said  that  Christ  was  called  the 
Son  of  God  simply  because  he  is  heir  of  all 
things.  In  proof,  they  cite  Heb.  1 :  3-5  :  "He 
sat  down  on  the  right  hand  of  the  Majesty  on 
high  ;  being  made  so  much  better  than*  the 
angels,  as  he  hath  by  inheritance  obtained  a 
more  excellent  name  than  they.  For  unto 
which  of  the  angels  said  he  at  any  time,  Thou 
art  my  Son,  this  day  have  I  begotten  thee  ?77 
But  heirship  comes  from  Sonship;  not  Son- 
ship  from  heirship:  "If  children,  then  heirs.77 
Rom.  8  :  IT.  The  fact  that  Christ  is  heir  of 
all  things  is  irrefragable  proof  that  he  is  the 
Son  of  God.  But  Christ's  Sonship  is  more 
than  all  these. 

I.  He  is  the  Son  of  the  Father  in  a  higher 
and  more  glorious  sense.  In  the  preceding 
chapter,  it  has  been  shown  that  he  existed 
long  ages  before  he  became  incarnate  ;  that 
he  was  possessed  of  all  divine  attributes ;  that 
he  was  uncreated,  and  justly  claimed  supreme 
divinity.     This  Sonship  of  our  Lord  clearly 


THE  SONSHIP  OF  CHKIST.  45 

implies  that  he  has  the  same  nature  with  the 
Father  ;  and  so,  as  the  Scriptures  say,  He 
#as  begotten  of  the  Father.  When  we  say 
that  Christ  is  by  nature  the  Son  of  God,  we 
mean  that  the  Father  communicates  to  him 
his  being  and  perfections.  He  himself  says, 
"All  things  that  the  Father  hath  are  mine." 
John  16:15.  "As  the  Father  hath  life  in 
himself,  so  hath  he  given  to  the  Son  to  have 
life  in  himself."  John  5:26.  Indeed,  "the 
communication  of  the  Divine  essence  by  the 
Father  is  the  generation  of  the  Son."  In 
nature,  the  Father  and  the  Son  are  perfectly 
the  same.  Xor  did  the  Father  ever  commu- 
nicate by  generation  his  divine  essence  to  any 
other  ;  so  that  Jesus  Christ  is  properly  called 
God's  only  Son,  and  his  only  begotten  Son. 
This  generation  of  the  Son  is  entirely  peculiar 
to  himself,  and  is  the  foundation  of  all  the 
holy  worship  offered  to  the  Redeemer  in 
heaven  and  earth,  of  all  saving  confidence 
reposed  in  the  efficacy  of  his  blood-shedding 
and  intercession,  and  of  the  all-controlling 
gratitude  felt  towards  him  for  his  amazing 
condescension  in  coming  into  the  world  and 
dying  for  our  salvation. 

II.  The  Sonship  of  Christ  is  real,  not  ima- 


46        THE  KOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

ginary ;  and  proper,  not  figurative.  It  is  the 
foundation  of  the  everlasting  relation  between 
the  Father  and  the  Son,  and  not  merely  the 
mode  of  our  conceiving  of  the  Divine  subsis- 
tence. Christ  is  as  truly  and  properly  the 
Son  of  God  as  Abel  was  the  son  of  Adam  ; 
that  is,  his  nature  is  as  truly  the  nature  of  his 
Father  as  the  nature  of  any  man  is  that  of  his 
parent.  Adam  begat  a  son  in  his  own  like- 
ness, after  his  image.  Gen.  5  :  3.  So,  by  his 
generation,  Jesus  Christ  is  "the  brightness  of 
his  Father's  glory,  and  the  express  image  of 
his  person."  Every  other  name  and  title  of 
our  Lord  has  a  delightful  fitness  and  signifi- 
cancy.  Why  should  that  of  Son  of  God  be  an 
exception?  He  is  called  Jesus,  because  he 
shall  save  his  people  from  their  sins.  Who 
deserves  the  name  of  Saviour  as  he  does?  He 
is  called  Christ,  because  the  Spirit  was  won- 
derfully poured  upon  him.  If  Aaron's  anoint- 
ing filled  his  presence  with  sweet  perfume,  the 
anointing  of  Christ  fills  heaven  and  earth  with 
an  odor  of  a  sweet  smell.  He  is  called  Lord 
and  Master,  because  he  has  perfect  sovereignty 
over  us.  None  ever  so  worthily  wore  a  crown 
or  swayed  a  sceptre.  He  is  called  Wonder- 
ful, for  his  person,  his  birth,  his  life,  his  works, 


THE  SONSHIP  OF  CHKIST.  47 

his  doctrines,  his  death,  his  resurrection,  his 
glory,  all  entitle  him  to  that  appellation.  He 
is  called  Counsellor,  for  none  deals  so  pru- 
dently. Isa.  52  :13.  His  wisdom  and  plans 
will  yet  destroy  every  dark  plot  of  iniquity. 
Himself  says,  "Counsel  is  mine,  and  sound  wis- 
dom ;  I  am  understanding  ;  I  have  strength." 
Prov.  8  :  14.  The  Spirit  of  counsel  and  might 
rests  upon  him.  Isa.  11  :  2.  Speaking  of  the 
man  whose  name  is  The  Branch,  the  prophet 
- :  "He  shall  build  the  temple  of  the  Lord, 
and  the  counsel  of  peace  shall  be  between 
them  both  r  that  is,  between  Jehovah  and  the 
Branch,  between  the  Father  and  the  Son. 
Zcch.  6  :  12,  13.  So  that  he  is  the  Counsellor 
of  God.  He  is  also  the  Counsellor  of  all  men 
who  believe  in  him.  He  is  the  true  light,  the 
infallible  teacher  of  all  the  saints.  He  is 
called  Redeemer.  None  half  so  fitly  bears 
that  title.  Others  bought  back  captives  with 
such  corruptible  things  as  silver  and  gold ;  he 
redeekns  through  his  most  precious  blood. 
They  redeem  from  temporal,  he  from  eternal 
woe.  He  is  the  Christ,  and  Jesus  Christ  is 
tin'  Son  of  God,  and  Jesus  Christ  the  Son  of 
God  is  the  Saviour  of  lost  men;  but  all  this 
only  shows  that  our  Lord  has  many  and  ex- 


48        THE  EOCK  OF  OUK  SALVATION. 

cellent  names  and  titles,  as  he  has  also  many 
crowns  on  his  head.  He  is  called  Jehovah, 
because  he  is  self-existent,  independent,  eter- 
nal, and  unchangeable.  He  is  called  God, 
because  the  fulness  of  the  Godhead  dwells  in 
him  bodily.  He  is  called  the  Son  of  God, 
because  he  is  the  only  begotten  of  the  Father, 
full  of  grace  and  truth.  His  "names  and 
titles,  which  are  more  than  two  hundred  in 
number,  include  every  thing  which  is  great 
or  glorious,  amiable  or  excellent,  in  the  esti- 
mation of  mankind."*  He  has  no  empty 
titles,  no  insignificant  names.  There  is  none 
like  him. 

III.  The  Sonship  of  Christ  is  eternal.  This 
is  clearly  taught:  "He  is  before  all  things." 
Col.  1 :  17.  "He  made  the  worlds."  Heb.  1 :  2. 
Of  course  he  existed  before  them.  There 
never  was  a  point  in  duration  when  the  Son 
was  not.  Some  have  argued  against  the  eter- 
nity of  the  filiation  of  our  Redeemer  from  the 
phrase,  "This  day  have  I  begotten  thee."  But 
Owen  well  says,  "'To-day7  being  spoken  of 
God,  of  him  who  is  eternal,  to  whom  all  time 
is  so  present  as  that  nothing  is  properly  yes- 
terday nor  to-day,  does  not  denote  necessarily 

*  Payson. 


THE  SONSHIP  OF  CHRIST.  49 

such  a  proportion  of  time  as  is  intimated  ;  but 
it  is  expressive  of  an  act  eternally  present, 
nor  past,  nor  future."  Addison  Alexander 
says,  ''This  profound  sense  of  the  passage  is 
no  more  excluded  by  the  phrase  'this  day,' 
implying  something  recent,  than  the  univer- 
sality of  Christ's  dominion  is  excluded  by  the 
local  reference  to  Zion.  The  point  of  time, 
like  the  point  of  space,  is  the  centre  of  an 
infinite  circle." 

IY.  Of  course  the  Sonship  of  Christ  im- 
plies much  more  than  Mediatorship.  It  is 
eminently  fitting  that  the  Mediator  between 
God  and  man  should  be  the  Son  of  God  and 
the  Son  of  Man  ;  but  Sonship  is  not  Mediator- 
si  iip,  any  more  than  Messiahship  is  Sonship. 
The  Word  did  not  become  God's  Son,  but 
being  God's  Son,  he  became  God's  Anointed 
by  receiving  the  Spirit  without  measure. 

Y.  The  filiation  of  Christ  is,  and  ought  to 
be  freely  admitted  to  be,  ineffable.  When,  as 
"the  angel  of  the  Lord,"  the  Son  of  God 
appeared  to  Manoah,  that  holy  man  said  unto 
him,  '"  What  is  thy  name?"  "And  the  angel 
of  the  Lord  said  unto  him,  Why  askcst  thou 
thus  after  my  name,  seeing  it  is  secret?" 
Judges  13:17,  18.      Payson  says:  "It  was 


50        THE  BOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

doubtless  the  eternal  Word,  who  is  frequently 
called  the  Angel  of  the  Covenant,  that  ap- 
peared on  that  occasion.  The  name  which  is 
here  given  him,  signifies  secret,  mysterious, 
wonderful ;  and  in  each  of  these  senses  it  may 
properly  be  ascribed  to  Christ.77  Christ  him- 
self says  :  "No  man  knoweth  who  the  Son  is, 
but  the  Father.77  Luke  10  :  22.  The  Son- 
ship  is  ineffable,  because  the  Divine  nature 
is  incomprehensible.  Divinity  is  essentially 
inscrutable.  So  the  Scriptures  everywhere 
declare  :  "  Canst  thou  by  searching  find  out 
Grod  ?  canst  thou  find  out  the  Almighty  unto 
perfection  ?  It  is  as  high  as  heaven  ;  what 
canst  thou  do  ?  deeper  than  hell ;  what  canst 
thou  know?  The  measure  thereof  is  longer 
than  the  earth  and  broader  than  the  sea.77 
Job  11 :  7-9.  Another  Scripture  declares  the 
incomprehensibility  of  the  nature  both  of  the 
Father  and  of  the  Son  :  "  Who  hath  ascended 
up  into  heaven,  or  descended?  who  hath  gath- 
ered the  wind  in  his  fists?  who  hath  bound  the 
waters  in  a  garment?  who  hath  established  all 
the  ends  of  the  earth  ?  what  is  his  name,  and 
what  is  his  son7s  name,  if  thou  canst  tell?77 
Prov.  30 : 4.  G-od,  indeed,  has  revealed  himself 
to  us  in  a  trinity  of  persons.    He  has  said  that 


THE  SONSHIP  OF  CHEIST.  51 

the  relation  between  the  first  and  second  of 
these  persons  is  best  expressed  in  our  language 
by  the  terms  Father  and  Son.  But  we  must  not 
strain  such  terms  to  make  them  imply  all  that 
we  understand  by  them  when  used  to  denote 
human  relationships.  Among  men,  a  father  ex- 
ists before  his  son ;  but  God  the  Father  is  eter- 
nal, and  God  the  Son  is  eternal.  The  great  idea 
conveyed  by  the  word  Father  is,  that  he  is  the 
fountain  of  the  divinity.  So,  when  we  use  the 
words  begat  and  begotten  in  this  connection,  the 
meaning  is,  that  we  cannot  better  express  the 
manner  in  which  the  Father  communicates 
the  divine  nature  to  the  Son  than  by  the  use 
of  these  terms. 

At  this  point  it  is  convenient  to  give  a 
statement  of  the  doctrine  of  Christ's  Sonship 
in  several  orthodox  Confessions.  This  may 
prevent  mistake,  and  show  how  steadfast  has 
been  the  faith  of  God's  people  on  this  point. 

The  Apostles'  Creed  says,  "I  believe  in 
God  the  Father  Almighty,  Maker  of  heaven 
and  earth  ;  and  in  Jesus  Christ  his  only  Son, 
our  Lord." 

The  Creed  as  given  by  Iremeus  has  it,  "I 
believe  in  one  Christ  Jesus,  the  Son  of  God, 
who  was  incarnate  for  our  salvation." 


52        THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

The  Nicene  Creed  (properly  so  called) 
says,  "We  believe  in  one  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
the  Son  of  God,  begotten  of  the  Father,  the 
only-begotten,  that  is,  of  the  substance  of  the 
Father,  God  of  God,  Light  of  Light,  very  God 
of  very  God,  begotten,  not  made,  of  one  sub- 
stance with  the  Father." 

The  Athanasian  Creed  says,  "The  Catho- 
lic faith  is  this :  That  we  worship  one  God  in 
Trinity,  and  Trinity  in  Unity.  .  .  .  The  Son  is 
of  the  Father  alone  ;  not  made,  nor  created, 
but  begotten." 

The  Confession  of  Wirtemberg  says,  "  We 
believe  and  confess  that  the  Son  of  God,  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  begotten  of  his  eternal 
Father,  is  true  and  eternal  God." 

The  Confession  of  Belgia  says,  "We  be- 
lieve that  Jesus  Christ,  in  respect  of  his  divine 
nature,  is  the  only  Son  of  God,  begotten  from 
everlasting,  not  made  or  created,  (for  then  he 
should  be  a  creature,)  but  of  the  same  essence 
with  the  Father  and  coeternal  with  him." 

The  Confession  of  Saxony  says,  "The  Son 
of  God  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  is  the  im- 
age of  the  eternal  Father,  is  appointed  our 
Mediator,  Reconciler,  Redeemer,  Justifier,  and 
Saviour." 


THE  SONSHIP  OF  CHEIST.  53 

The  Augsburg  Confession  teaches,  "that 
the  Word,  that  is,  the  Son  of  God,  took  unto 
him  man's  nature  in  the  womb  of  the  blessed 
Virgin  Mary. 

In  further  support  of  this  doctrine,  con- 
sider the  following  : 

1.  It  is  clear  that  the  Jews  expected  their 
Messiah  to  be  the  Son  of  God.  Nathanael 
was  an  Israelite  indeed,  and  he  said  to  Christ, 
11  Rabbi,  thou  art  the  Son  of  God,  thou  art  the 
King  of  Israel."  Martha  too  said  to  him  :  "I 
believe  that  thou  art  the  Christ,  the  Son  of 
God,  which  should  come  into  the  world."  The 
high-priest  said  to  Jesus,  "I  adjure  thee  by 
the  living  God,  that  thou  tell  us  whether  thou 
be  the  Christ,  the  Son  of  God."  John  1  :  49  ; 
11 :  27  ;  Matt.  26  :  63.  Where  did  they  all  get 
the  impression  that  Messiah  should  be  the 
Son  of  God,  if  their  prophets  did  not  so  teach 
them? 

2.  From  many  Scriptures  it  appears  rea- 
sonable to  infer  that  the  Spirit  of  God  designed 
to  teach  us  Christ's  Sonship  with  God.  You 
remember  that  famous  confession  of  Peter  : 
';  We  believe  and  are  sure  that  thou  art  that 
Christ,  the  Son  of  the  living  God."  John  6:69. 
John  expressly  informs  us  that  he  wrote  his 


54:        THE  EOCK  OF  OUE  SALVATION. 

gospel  "that  we  might  believe  that  Jesus  is 
the  Christ,  the  Son  of  God."  John  20  :  31. 
Again  he  says  :  "  These  things  have  I  written 
unto  you  that  believe  on  the  name  of  the  Son 
of  God  ;  that  ye  may  know  that  ye  have  eter- 
nal life,  and  that  ye  may  believe  on  the  name 
of  the  Son  of  God."    1  John  5  :  13. 

3.  On  two  occasions  Christ  received  from 
God  the  Father  glorious  testimony  to  his  Son- 
ship.  "Jesus,  when  he  was  baptized,  went 
up  straightway  out  of  the  water  ;  and  lo,  the 
heavens  were  opened  unto  him,  and  he  saw 
the  Spirit  of  God  descending  like  a  dove,  and 
lighting  upon  him  j  and  lo,  a  voice  from  heaven, 
saying,  This  is  my  beloved  Son,  in  whom  I  am 
well  pleased."  Matt.  3:16,  17.  The  other 
occasion  was  that  of  his  transfiguration,  when 
a  voice  out  of  the  cloud,  called  by  Peter  the 
"  excellent  glory,"  said,  "  This  is  my  beloved 
Son,  in  whom  I  am  well  pleased  ;  hear  ye 
him."     Matt.  17  :  5. 

4.  The  Scriptures  lay  great  stress  on  this 
doctrine.  In  fact  they  assert,  in  plain  terms, 
that  the  belief  of  it  is  essential  to  the  forma* 
tion  and  establishment  of  Christian  character. 
"Who  is  he  that  overcometh  the  world,  but 
he  that  believeth  that  Jesus  is  the  Son  of 


THE  SONSHIP  OF  CHEIST.  55 

God?"  1  John  5:5.  The  Ethiopian  treas- 
urer made  the  confession  of  his  faith  in  these 
simple  words:  "I  believe  that  Jesus  Christ  is 
the  Son  of  God."  Upon  this  profession  he 
was  baptized.  And  John  says  expressly: 
'  •  Whoso  denieth  the  Son,  the  same  hath  not 
the  Father."     I  John  2:23. 

5.  It  is  admitted  that  the  term  "Word" 
is  applied  to  Christ  in  reference  to  his  exist- 
ence before  his  incarnation,  and  without  ref- 
erence to  his  office  as  Mediator.  Yet  John 
uses  the  term  "  Word"  and  the  term  V  Only- 
begotten  of  the  Father"  as  interchangeable 
terms :  "The  Word  was  made  flesh,  and  dwelt 
among  us,  (and  we  beheld  his  glory,  the  glory 
as  of  the  only-begotten  of  the  Father,)  full  of 
grace  and  truth."  John  1 :14.  The  glory  of 
the  Word  and  the  glory  of  the  only-begotten 
of  the  Father  is  the  same. 

6.  The  ordinance  of  Baptism  is  adminis- 
tered "  in  the  name  of  the  Father,  and  of  the 
Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost."  All  who  be- 
lieve the  doctrine  of  the  Trinity  admit  that 
Father  and  Holy  Spirit  designate  divine  per- 
sons.    Surely  the  term  Son  does  the  same. 

7.  The  Scriptures  expressly  state  that  the 
only-begotten  Son,  who  is  in  the  bosom  of  the 


56        THE  BOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

Father,-  he  hath  declared  him ;  that  is,  the 
only-begotten  Son  who  has  an  eternal  and 
infinite  intimacy  with  the  divine  nature  has 
revealed  him. 

8.  The  glory  of  the  priesthood  of  Christ 
arises  chiefly  from  his  filiation  with  God.  So 
the  apostle  sets  it  forth;  He  maketh  the  Son  a 
High  Priest;  "We  have  a  great  High  Priest, 
Jesus  the  Son  of  God."  Heb.  4:14;  7  :  28. 
The  greatness  of  our  High  Priest  clearly  re- 
sults from  his  being  the  Son  of  God. 

9.  If  Christ  was  the  Word  before  he  was 
made  flesh,  he  was  the  Son  before  he  was 
manifested  to  destroy  the  works  of  the  devil. 
John  1:1,  14  ;  1  John  3  : 8.  Surely  this  is 
fair  reasoning. 

10.  Fuller  says:  " It  is  the  proper  deity 
of  Christ  which  gives  efficacy  to  his  sufferings : 
1  by  himself  he  purges  our  sins.'  (Heb.  1  :  3.) 
But  this  efficacy  is  ascribed  to  his  being  •  the 
Son  of  God  :'  '  The  blood  of  Jesus  Christ,  his 
Son,  cleanseth  us  from  all  sin.7  His  being  the 
Son  of  God  therefore  amounts  to  the  same 
thing  as  his  being  a  divine  person."  Yea, 
more  ;  it  shows  how  he  is  divine,  viz.,  by  an 
eternal  generation. 

The  inferences  from  this   discussion  are 


THE  SONSHIP  OF  CHRIST.  57 

many  and  important.  The  doctrine  is  -  full  of 
rich  consolation.  Our  Redeemer  not  only 
has  glorious  power  and  exaltation,  but  he  has 
them  because,  being  the  Son  of  God,  he  learned 
obedience  by  the  things  which  he  suffered. 
Heb.  5  :  8.  Our  Advocate  has  by  nature  a 
right  to  equality  with  God  ;  and,  being  full 
of  love  and  kindness,  he  is  sure  to  manage 
the  cause  of  all  his  people  so  as  to  secure 
their  final  salvation. 


3* 


58        THE  KOCK  OF  OUE  SALVATION. 
CHAPTER  IY. 

THE  INCAKNATION  OF   CHKIST. 

When  we  say,  The  Son  of  God  became 
incarnate,  we  mean  to  say  that  he  became 
the  Son  of  man,  taking  to  himself  human  na- 
ture entire.  In  the  Apostles'  Creed  this  doc- 
trine is  thus  expressed:  "He  was  conceived 
by  the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  born  of 
the  Yirgin  Mary."  The  Athanasian  Creed 
says  :  "  He  is  not  only  perfect  God,  but  per- 
fect man,  of  a  reasonable  soul  and  human  flesh 
subsisting."  The  Westminster  Assembly  thus 
teach:  "The  Son  of  God,  the  second  person 
of  the  Trinity,  being  very  and  eternal  God, 
of  one  substance  and  equal  with  the  Father, 
did,  when  the  fulness  of  time  was  come,  take 
upon  him  man's  nature,  with  all  the  essential 
properties  and  infirmities  thereof,  yet  without 
sin ;  being  conceived  by  the  power  of  the 
Holy  Ghost,  in  the  womb  of  the  Yirgin  Mary, 
of  her  substance.  So  that  two  whole,  perfect, 
and  distinct  natures,  the  Godhead  and  the 
manhood,  were  inseparably  joined  together  in 
one  person,  without  conversion,  composition, 


THE  INCARNATION  OF  CHRIST.         59 

or  confusion.  Which  person  is  very  G.od  and 
very  man,  yet  one  Christ,  the  only  Mediator 
between  God  and  man." 

Respecting  Christ's  human  nature,  many 
wild  and  dangerous  opinions  have  been  held  ; 
but  these  need  not  now  be  formally  refuted. 
The  proof  of  the  true  doctrine  will  be  suffi- 
cient. 

The  union  of  Christ's  natures  was  formed, 
not  by  his  humanity  seeking  to  be  affianced 
to  divinity.  This  would  have  been  presump- 
tuous aspiring.  But  his  Godhead  sought  union 
with  manhood.  This  was  infinite  love  and 
condescension.  Christ's  human  nature  never 
existed  separately,  or  otherwise  than  in  union 
with  his  divinity.  From  his  conception  this 
union  was  complete.  The  preexistent  divine 
nature  took  to  itself  human  nature.  Christ's 
human  nature  never  had  a  personal  subsist- 
ence V)}-  itself.  So  that  Christ  did  not  assume 
a  human  person,  but  human  nature.  "His 
person  is  not  a  compound  person  ;  the  person- 
ality belongs  to  his  Godhead,  and  the  human 
nature  subsists  in  it  by  a  peculiar  dispensa- 
tion. The  assumption  of  our  nature  made  no 
change  in  hi-  person  ;  it  added  nothing  to  it; 
and  the  only  difference  is,  that  the  same  per- 


60-       THE  KOCK  OF  OUK  SALVATION. 

son  who  was  possessed  of  divinity  has  now' 
taken  humanity."  So  that  things  done  or  suf- 
fered in  either  nature  are  ascribed  to  the  one 
person,  Christ  Jesus.  The  properties  of  each 
nature  are,  and  will  ever  continue  to  be,  entire 
and  distinct.  Divinity  cannot  be  subject  to 
any  change.  Humanity  cannot  cease  to  be 
humanity — cannot  become  divinity.  The  Cre- 
ator cannot  cease  to  be  Creator.  The  crea- 
ture cannot  cease  to  be  a  creature. 

This  union  of  the  two  natures  in  Christ  is. 
not  without  some  similitude  in  ourselves.  In 
his  constitution  man  has  two  substances,  one 
a  soul,  the  other  a  body  ;  one  spiritual  and 
immortal,  the  other  material  and  perishable. 
By  their  union,  one  of  these  substances  is  not 
changed  into  the  other.  They  remain  distinct 
even  when  united.  Yet  a  man  is  one  person, 
and  not  two  persons.  When  we  say,  He  is 
sad,  all  know  we  refer  to  his  soul.  When  we 
say,  He  is  muscular,  all  know  we  speak  of  his 
body.  Yet  in  both  cases  we  speak  of  the 
same  person.  So  Christ's  person  is  one,  and 
not  two.  When  he  spake  of  himself  he  said, 
/,  mine,  me.  When  his  apostles  spake  of  him, 
they  said,  he,  his,  him.  When  we  address  him, 
we  say,   thou  thine,   thee.     Acts  1 :  24.     The 


THE  INCARNATION  OF  CHRIST.         <61 

Scriptures  also  use  singular  nouns  respecting 
him,  and  call  him  a  Prophet,  a  Priest,  a  King, 
a  Shepherd,  a  Redeemer.  The  union  of  his 
natures  could  not  be  more  perfect.  It  is  per- 
sonal, perpetual,  indissoluble. 

The  Scriptures  say,  Christ  was  "made  of  a 
woman"  Human  beings  have  come  into  the 
world  in  four  ways.  The  first  man,  the  very 
fountain  of  human  nature,  had  neither  father 
nor  mother.  Neither  man  nor  woman  was 
the  instrument  of  his  existence.  The  first 
woman  had  neither  father  nor  mother,  yet  she 
derived  her  nature  from  Adam,  but  in  no 
sense  from  a  woman.  Since  the  first  pair, 
every  mere  man  has  had  both  father  and 
mother.  Yet  none  have  denied  that  all  these 
had  human  nature  entire.  Jesus  Christ  had 
a  mother,  but  no  father  according  to  the  flesh  ; 
even  as  in  his  divine  nature  he  had  a  Father 
only.     He  was  made  of  a  woman. 

To  be  our  Saviour,  it  behooved  Christ  to 
have  a  human  nature.  His  incarnation  was 
fitting  and  necessary. 

It  was  meet  that  the  nature  which  had 
brought  our  ruin  should  bring  our  deliver- 
ance. 

It  was  lit  that  the  nature  which  had  sinned 


62        THE  KOCK  OF  OUK  SALVATION. 

should  make  reparation  for  our  wrongs,  and 
so  should  die. 

This  earth,  which  is  the  abode  of  men,  not 
of  God  or  of  angels,  was  the  proper  theatre 
for  the  display  of  the  grace,  and  mercy,  and 
justice,  and  power,  manifested  in  the  life  and 
death  of  Jesus  Christ.  He  that  was  rich  thus 
became  poor,  that  we  through  his  poverty 
might  be  rich.  2  Cor.  8-:  9.  In  some  respects, 
this  was  the  most  amazing  step  in  our  Lord's 
humiliation.  It  is  more  surprising  that  a 
prince  should  marry  a  shepherdess  than  that, 
having  made  her  queen,  he  should  nobly  pro- 
tect and  richly  endow  her,  or  even  die  in  her 
defence. 

Christ  was  "made  under  the  law."  As  to 
his  divine  nature,  he  could  in  no  sense  be 
under  the  law.  He  was  the  Lawgiver.  He 
was  God;  and  God  cannot  live  and  act  under 
rules  fit  for  the  government  of  creatures.  If 
the  Saviour  was  to  live  under  the  law  as  a 
rule  of  life,  and  set  us  an  example  in  all 
things,  he  must  do  it  in  a  finite  nature,  and 
as  his  mission  was  to  us,  most  fitly  in  our 
nature. 

Besides,  Divinity  cannot  suffer,  cannot 
die.     But  by  his  incarnation,  Jesus  was  made 


THE  INCARNATION  OF  CHRIST.         63 

"lower  than  the  angels,  for  the  suffering  of 
death." 

Thus  he  was  made  under  the  law  in  the 
two  senses  of  being  voluntarily  subject  to  its 
precept,  being  thus  bound  to  fulfil  all  right- 
eousness ;  and  being  voluntarily  made  under 
the  penalty  of  the  law,  that  he  might  taste  of 
death  for  every  man.  He  even  obeyed  the 
law  of  religious  rites  'under  which  he  lived. 
In  his  'infancy  he  was  circumcised.  In  his 
manhood  he  was  baptized.  He  perfectly, 
personally,  perpetually  kept  the  whole  moral 
law.  He  never  sinned  once,  even  by  omis- 
sion. And  he  freely  placed  himself,  and  lived 
and  died,  under  the  curse  of  the  very  law 
which  he  perfectly  obeyed  during  his  whole 
life.  Edwards  says:  "The  meritoriousness 
of  Christ's  obedience  depends  on  the  perfec- 
tion of  it.  If  it  had  failed  in  any  instance,  it 
could  not  have  been  meritorious ;  for  imper- 
fect obedience  is  not  accepted  as  any  obedi- 
ence at  all  in  the  sight  of  the  law  of  works,  to 
which  Christ  was  subject.  That  is  not  ac- 
cepted as  obedience  to  a  law  that  does  not 
fully  answer  it." 

The  efficacy  of  Christ's  death  depended  on 
his  dying  in  the  room  and  stead  of  sinners, 


64       THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

who  were  under  the  curse  of  the  law.  If  he 
did  not  bear  the  curse  for  us,  we  shall  surely 
be  obliged  to  bear  it  ourselves. 

Let  us  consider  a  few  distinct  proposi- 
tions : 

I.  Prophecy  required  that  Christ  should 
assume  human  nature.  It  said  he  should  be 
of  "  the  seed  of  Abraham"  and  of  "  the  seed 
of  David."    Gen.  12  :3,  7  ;  17 :7,  8  ;  Gal.  3:16; 

2  Sam.  7  :12 ;  John  7 :42  ;  Acts  13:23;  Rom. 
1 :3  ;  2  Tim.  2 : 8.  Other  predictions  required 
that  he  should  "  at  the  latter  day  stand  upon 
the  earth,"  Job  19  :25  ;  that  he  should  have 
a  body,  Psa.  40:6;  and  Heb.  10:5  ;  that  he 
should  hang  upon  his  mother's  breasts,  Psa. 
22:9;  and  that  his  body  should  be  dead,  Isa. 
26:19. 

Yet  still  more  clearly,  the  very  first  gos- 
pel ever  preached,  even  in  Eden,  foretold 
that  he  should  have  a  human  nature,  and  that 
derived  from  his  mother:  ''The  seed  of  the 
woman  shall  bruise  the  serpent's  head."  Gen. 

3  :  15  ;  and  later :  "  Behold,  a  virgin  shall  con- 
ceive and  bear  a  Son,  and  shall  call  his  name 
Immanuel."  Isa.  7:14.  So  that  the  Scrip- 
tures would  not  have  been  fulfilled,  if  Christ 
had  not  had  a  human  nature — a  human  nature 


THE  INCARNATION  OF  CHRIST.         65 

derived  from  his  mother  alone.  In  prophetic 
vision,  Daniel  called  him  the  Son  of  man. 
Dan.  7:13. 

II.  These  predictions  have  been  fulfilled. 
The  whole  histoiy  of  our  Lord  upon  earth 
proves  it.  God  has  "sent  forth  his  Son,  made 
of  a  woman."  In  the  New  Testament  he  is 
often  called  a  man.  In  the  gospels  alone  he 
is  more  than  seventy  times  called  the  Son  of 
man.  More  than  sixty  times  he  gives  this 
appellation  to  himself.  The  year  of  his  ascen- 
sion Stephen  saw  him  glorified,  and  called 
him  the  Son  of  man.  Sixty  years  later  John 
did  the  same.  The  gospel  of  Matthew  is  styled 
11  The  book  of  the  generation  of  Jesus  Christ, 
the  Son  of  David,  the  Son  of  Abraham."  John 
says:  " The  Word  was  made  flesh,  and  dwelt 
among  us.''  John  1:14.  Paul  says:  "He 
took  upon  him  the  seed  of  Abraham."  Heb. 
2  :16.  In  his  first  epistle,  1  : 1-3,  John  ex- 
pressly says  that  by  three  senses,  hearing, 
sight,  and  touch,  he  and  the  other  apostles 
had  satisfied  themselves  of  his  incarnation. 

Jesus  Christ  had  all  that  is  necessary  to 
constitute  human  nature  entire.  He  himself 
mi  id.  Behold  my  hands  and  my  feet,  that  it 
La   I   myself;  handle  me  and  see,  for  a  spirit 


66        THE  KOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

hath  not  flesh  and  bones  as  ye  see  me 
have."  Luke  24 :  39.  Christ  had  a  soul. 
He  said,  "My  soul  is  exceeding  sorrowful 
unto  death."  #Mark  14  :  34.  He  had  a  spirit: 
"In  that  hour  Jesus  rejoiced  in  spirit."  Luke 
10  :  21.  "  When  he  had  cried  with  a  loud 
voice,  he  yielded  up  the  ghost."  Matthew 
27:50.  Jesus  Christ  had  a  will:  "Father, 
not  as  I  will,  but  as  thou  wilt."  Matt.  26  :  39. 
See  also  Matthew  27  :  34  ;  John  7  : 1.  Jesus 
Christ  had  the  affections  of  a  man.  He  re- 
joiced. Luke  10  :  21.  He  wept.  John  11  :  35. 
He  was  grieved.  Mark  3  : 5.  He  had  hopes, 
even  in  his  early  infancy.  Psa.  22:9.  He 
had  natural  affection  for  kindred  spirits.  We 
are  told  that  he  loved  Mary,  and  Martha,  and 
Lazarus,  and  John,  and  the  rich  young  ruler. 
In  some  places  his  soul  and  body  are  men- 
tioned together  :  "  The  child  Jesus  grew,  and 
waxed  strong  in  spirit,  filled  with  wisdom." 
Luke  2  :  40.  He  performed  bodily  acts.  He 
walked,  he  rode,  he  ate,  he  drank,  he  sailed, 
he  slept,  he  rested.  He  was  not  indeed  sub- 
ject to  mortal  diseases.  Psa.  91  : 5-8.  But 
he  had  the  general  infirmities  of  our  nature. 
He  hungered.  Matt.  4:2.  He  thirsted.  John 
19  :  28.     He  was  wearied.     John  4:6.     He 


THE  INCARNATION  OF  CHRIST.         67 

was  greatly,  pained.  Luke  12  :  50.  He  was 
tempted.  Heb.  2  :  18.  He  endured  unpar- 
alleled agony.  Luke  22  :  44.  He  died,  as 
all  admit.  He  had  no  moral  infirmity.  He 
was  without  sin.     Heb.  4  :  15. 

III.  The  incarnation  of  Christ  is  some- 
thing entirely  beyond  human  comprehension. 
It  is  an  ineffable  mystery.  The  Scriptures 
say,  "Without  controversy  great  is  the  mys- 
tery of  godliness  :  God  was  manifest  in  the 
flesh."  1  Tim.  3  :  16.  How  could  it  be  oth- 
erwise? The  Father  of  eternity  became  an 
jnfant  of  days.  "Though  all  things  were  crea- 
ted by  him,  he  was  placed  on  a  level  with  his 
own  creatures.7'  He,  whom  the  heaven  of 
heavens  could  not  contain,  was  laid  in  a  man- 
ger. The  eternal  Word  and  the  child  Jesus 
were  one  person.  Possessed  of  infinite  bles- 
sedness, the  Son  of  God  is  united  with  the 
man  of  sorrows.  Himself  in  both  natures 
spotlessly  holy,  he  consents  to  be  treated,  tor- 
men  ted,  punished,  as  a  sinner.  He  made  all 
things,  yet  was  made  flesh.  He  governed  all 
things,  yet  was  subject  to  his  parents.  He 
opened  his  hand  and  satisfied  the  desire  of 

;  y  living  thing,  yet  fasted  forty  days  him- 
self.    All  the  infinite  perfections  of  God  and 


68        THE  KOCK  OF  OUB  SALVATION. 

all  the  innocent  infirmities  of  man  meet  in  the 
God-man,  Christ  Jesus.  There  is  no  greater 
gulf  than  that  which  separates  created  and 
uncreated.  Yet  the  Son  of  God  passes  it  all, 
and  takes  our  nature  into  indissoluble  union 
with  divinity.  This  union  could  not  be  more 
intimate.  Soul  and  body  may  be  separated 
for  a  season.  When  Christ  himself  died,  his 
soul  went  to  Paradise,  while  his  body  lay  in 
the  sepulchre  of  Joseph.  But  the  union  of 
his  human  and  divine  natures  was  not  dissolved 
by  death.  Paul  calls  the  blood  shed  by  him 
the  blood  of  God.  Acts  20 :  28.  So  close  was 
this  union  that  we  fitly  speak  of  our  Lord  as 
a  divine  sufferer.  When  he  was  on  earth,  he 
spoke  of  himself  as  "  the  Son  of  man  which  is 
in  heaven."  John  3:13.  We  ascribe  to  the 
person  of  our  Saviour  whatever  belonged  to 
either  of  his  natures,  or  was  done  in  either  of 
them.  His  incarnation  is  a  mystery  in  itself. 
Basil  says,  "  He  was  conceived  not  of  the 
substance,  but  by  the  power  of  the  Holy 
Ghost ;  not  by  his  generation,  but  by  his  ap- 
pointment and  benediction."  His  incarnation 
is  a  mystery  of  love.  It  expresses  infinite 
benevolence.  It  is  also  "  the  wisdom  of  God 
in  a  mystery" — a  mystery  of  power,  of  truth, 


THE  INCAKNATION  OF  CHKIST.         69 

and  of  grace.  It  is  the  mystery  of  mysteries, 
because  it  is  "  the  mystery  of  God."  We  are 
not  required  to  divest  it  of  inscrutableness, 
but  we  are  required  to  embrace  it,  and  rejoice 
in  it.  It  is  a  fundamental  doctrine,  the  belief 
of  which  is  essential  to  salvation:  "Every 
spirit  that  confesseth  that  Jesus  Christ  is  come 
in  the  flesh,  is  of  God :  and  every  spirit  that 
confesseth  not  that  Jesus  Christ  is  come  in 
the  flesh,  is  not  of  God."    1  John  4:2,3. 

IY.  The  Son  of  God  did  not  become  man 

at  the  giving  of  the  first  gospel  promise,  but 

more  than  four  thousand  years  after  it.     He 

took  our  nature  "when  the  fulness  of  time 

<ome."     This  phrase  designates — 

1.  The  time  set  in  the  counsels  of  God. 
Jesus  Christ  was  born  no  sooner  and  no  later 
than  the  purpose  of  God  had  determined. 
Acts  4  :  28. 

2.  The  time  fixed  in  prophecy,  which  is 
but  the  revealed  purpose  of  God.  The  sev- 
enty weeks  of  Daniel  had  expired.  The  sec- 
ond temple  was  soon  to  fall. 

3.  The  state  of  the  Jewish  nation  was  such 
to  render  Christ's  appearance  at  that  time 

very  seasonable.  The  tabernacle  of  David 
had  fallen  very  low,  was  cleft  with  breaches, 


70        THE  KOCK  OF  OUE  SALVATION. 

and  was  lying  in  ruins,  for  Herod  the  Great, 
now  king  over  Judea,  was  not  a  descendant  of 
the  royal  Psalmist,  but  was  an  Idumean.  Now 
was  the  fit  time  to  build  up  the  throne  of 
David.     Amos  9  :  11 ;  Acts  15  :  16. 

4.  Many  things  in  the  general  state  of  the 
world  rendered  this  a  fit  time  for  Christ's 
coming. 

It  had  been  fully  demonstrated  by  the 
experience  of  many  powerful  and  civilized 
nations,  that  the  world  by  wisdom  could  never 
come  to  know  God.  Letters,  arts,  science, 
civilization,  philosophy,  commerce,  and  expe- 
rience had  shown  that  they  were  all  power- 
less to  save  men  from  polytheism,  or  to  teach 
them  the  true  nature  of  God. 

Consequently,  human  misery  was  unaba- 
ted. Men  multiplied  their  sorrows  by  hasten- 
ing after  another  God  than  Jehovah.  The 
world  had  long  been  oppressed  with  its  woes. 
The  cry  of  its  wailings  was  very  loud. 

At  Christ's  birth  the  earth  was  populous — 
much  more  so  than  it  had  commonly  been  at 
any  previous  period.  So  that  his  coming  was 
likely  to  be  known  to  many  and  to  produce 
an  impression  on  vast  multitudes. 

When   Christ  came   the  Greek  was   the 


THE  INCAKNATION  OF  CHEIST.         71 

polite  language  of  the  world,  and  the  Latin 
was  the  popular  language  of  multitudes  in 
many  lands,  so  that  both  what  was  spoken  and 
what  was  written  was  likely  to  be  widely  and 
rapidly  diffused. 

At  the  birth  of  Christ,  the  Roman  empire, 
the  greatest  and  most  terrible  monarchy  the 
world  ever  saw,  wTas  in  its  strength.  It  was  the 
iron  dynasty  of  all  ages.  It  was  peculiarly  fit- 
ting that  in  the  height  of  its  dominion  the  stone 
cut  out  of  the  mountain  without  hands  should 
break  in  pieces  this  immense  and  cruel  power, 
and  the  God  of  heaven  set  up  a  kingdom  which 
shall  never  be  destroyed.  Dan.  2  :  42-45.  By 
words  of  peace  and  grace,  by  deeds  of  love 
and  mercy,  by  meekness  and  holiness,  by 
patience  and  martyrdom,  this  gigantic  tyranny 
was  wholly  changed  in  less  than  three  centu- 
ries after  our  Lord's  crucifixion. 

Christ  was  the  Prince  of  peace,  and  it  was 
seemly  that  he  should  come  when  war  was  not 
raging.  When  he  was  born  the  temple  of 
J  a  n  ns  was  shut — a  thing  that  had  not  occurred 
for  centuries  till  about  that  time.  This  was  a 
sign  that  peace  everywhere  prevailed. 

"  Nor  war  nor  battle-sound 
Was  heard  the  world  around  ; 


72        THE  EOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

No  hostile  chiefs  to  furious  combat  ran ; 

<J3ut  peaceful  was  the  night, 

In  which  the  Prince  of  Light 
His  reign  of  grace  upon  the  earth  began." 

The  Jews  were  at  this  time  very  widely 
dispersed  over  the  world.  Though  they  often 
visited  the  holy  city,  yet  they  went  every- 
where. So  that  any  change  effected  in  Judea 
was  likely  soon  to  be  known  in  all  the  chief 
cities  of  the  world.  On  the  day  of  Pentecost 
there  were  Jews,  devout  men  of  every  nation 
under  heaven  at  Jerusalem,  and  on  their  con- 1 
version  and  dispersion  they  went  everywhere 
preaching  the  word  of  the  gospel.  Acts  2 : 5-11 ; 
8:4. 

Christ  was  born  when  the  spirit  of  perse- 
cution was  not  raging  violently  in  the  world 
generally,  so  that  his  doctrine  was  less  likely 
to  be  fiercely  assailed  for  a  season  than  if  it 
had  been  propagated  a  century  or  two  earlier 
or  later. 

No  period  could  be  conceived  so  little 
adapted  to  the  exhibition  of  a  false,  and  so 
well  calculated  to  put  to  the  test  the  merits  of 
a  true  religion. 

Thus  did  Christ  become  incarnate  "in  the 
fulness  of  time,"  i.  e.  at  the  right  time,  at  the 
fittest  time  possible. 


THE  INCAKNATION  OF  CHRIST.         73 

V.  The  incarnation  of  Christ  was  the 
greatest  event  that  ever  happened.  The 
birth  of  a  prince  often  sends  a  thrill  of  joy 
through  an  empire,  yet  he  may  prove  a  shame 
and  a  curse  to  the  nation  and  the  world  ;  but 
the  birth  of  Christ  brought  inestimable  bless- 
ings to  Jews  and  Gentiles,  and  shall  do  so  for 
ever.  No  ancient  monarchy  lives,  even  in 
history,  to  bless  mankind  ;  but  the  birth  and 
kingdom  of  Christ  are,  and  ever  shall  be, 
gladsome  truths.  The  hopes  of  virtuous  mill- 
ions hang  upon  them.  The  joys  of  saints  and 
angels  are  kindled  by  them.  "The  creation 
of  the  world  was  a  very  great  thing,  but  not 
so  great  as  the  incarnation  of  Christ.  It  was 
a  great  thing  for  God  to  make  the  creature, 
but  not  so  great  as  for  the  Creator  to  become 
a  creature."  Christ's  incarnation  was  the  con- 
firmation of  all  that  had  been  said  and  done 
in  preceding  ages  to  encourage  the  hopes  of 
penitent  men.  It  fulfilled  the  glorious  pledges 
of  redemption.  It  opened  boundless  and  ama- 
zing prospects  of  enlargement  and  glory  to 
God's  people  and  to  their  Redeemer.  Some 
of  its  effects  were  immediate  and  some  remote. 
Home  related  to  angels  and  some  to  men; 
some  to  Jews  and  some   to  Gentiles.     The 


74        THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

wise  men  who  came  from  the  east  to  worship 
Christ  were  Gentiles,  and  were  representa- 
tive men.  Christ's  personal  ministry  was  a 
blessing  to  several  Grentiles,  and  the  only  men 
converted  in  sight  of  his  cross  were  pretty 
certainly  Grentiles.  These  things  were  assur- 
ances of  the  fulfilment  of  all  God  had  prom- 
ised respecting  heathen  nations.  These  con- 
versions were  first-fruits  of  the  great  harvest 
to  be  gathered  in  all  lands.  The  immedi- 
ate effect  of  Christ's  birth  on  the  pious  Jews 
was  most  happy.  To  Simeon  and  Anna,  and 
such  lovely  specimens  of  genuine  godliness, 
the  event  gave  joy  unspeakable.  Those  who 
hated  God  and  all  his  messengers,  of  course 
wondered  and  perished.  The  effect  on  angels 
was  amazing.  They  felt  new  joys  in  heaven. 
One  of  their  number  announced  the  event  to 
the  shepherds,  and  "  suddenly  there  was  with 
him  a  multitude  of  the  heavenly  host,  prais- 
ing God,  and  saying,  Glory  to  God  in  the 
highest,  and  on  earth  peace,  good- will  to  men.'7 
Previous  to  the  birth  of  Christ  for  about  four 
hundred  and  twenty  years,  God's  Spirit,  as  a 
Spirit  of  inspiration,  had  been  quite  withheld 
from  men.  But  about  the  time  of  his  appear- 
ance, there  are  recorded  no  less  than  eleven 


THE  INCARNATION  OF  CHRIST.        75 

instances  in  which  men  and  women  received 
the  Holy  Ghost  as  a  spirit  of  prophecy. 

The  effect  of  Christ's  incarnation  on  fallen 
angels  was  great.  Their  power  began  at  once 
to  dwindle.  They  cried  out,  "Why  hast  thou 
come  to  torment  us  before  the  tiiue  ?"  The 
Lord  himself  said:  "I  saw  Satan's  kingdom 
fall  like  lightning  from  heaven."  It  is  credi- 
bly stated  that  the  Delphic  oracle  ceased  to 
give  its  usual  responses,  and  when  asked  the 
reason,  replied,  "There  is  a  Hebrew  boy  who 
is  king  df  the  gods,  who  has  commanded  me 
to  leave  this  house,  and  begone  to  hell,  and 
therefore  you  are  to  expect  no  more  answers." 
And  Porphyry  says:  "Since  Jesus  began  to 
be  worshipped,  no  man  has  received  any  pub- 
lic help  or  benefit  of  the  gods." 

From  the  day  that  Christ  was  born  to  this 
hour,  all  the  desirable  changes  which  have 
taken  place  in  the  world,  either  in  persons  or 
communities,  have  been  in  consequence  of  his 
incarnation  and  of  his  glorious  progress  in 
setting  up  his  kingdom.  So  shall  it  ever  be. 
Bra  kingdom  is  constantly  enlarging.  His 
diadem  is  more  and  more  glorious.  Every 
soul  saved  is  a  new  jewel  in  his  crown. 

Of  Christ's  incarnation  Robert  Hall  Bays  : 


76        THE  EOCK  OF  OUE  SALVATION. 

t ' '  The  epoch  will  arrive  when  this  world  will 
be  thought  of  as  nothing  but  as  it  has  furnished 
a  stage  for  '  the  manifestation  of  the  Son  of 
God  ;'  when  his  birth,  his  death,  his  resur- 
rection from  the  dead,  his  ascension  to  glory, 
and  his  second  appearance,  events  insepara- 
bly connected,  will  concentrate  within  them- 
selves all  the  interest  of  history  ;  when  war 
and  peace,  and  pestilence  and  famine,  and 
plenty  and  want,  and  life  and  death,  will  have 
spent  their  force,  and  leave  nothing  but  the 
result  of  Christ's  manifestation  upon  earth." 

VI.  The  person  of  Christ  as  now  consti- 
tuted remains  perpetual.  The  bond  of  union 
between  his  divine  and  human  natures  is  indis- 
soluble. As  he  was  from  his  conception,  so 
he  continues  to  be,  "God  and  man,  in  two  dis- 
tinct natures  and  one  person,  for  ever."  The 
same  Lamb  that  was  slain  is  now  in  the  midst 
of  the  throne.  Eev.  5 : 6.  The  same  Jesus 
that  ascended  from  Olivet  shall  come  again. 
The  progress  of  duration  shall  neither  change 
his  natures  nor  his  person,  his  character  nor  his 
readiness  to  save.     He  is  able  ;  he  is  willing. 

1.  Let  none  be  offended  at  the  mystery  of 
the  incarnation.     If  we  cannot  comprehend, 


THE  INCAKNATION  OF.CHRIST.         77 

let  us  adore.  No  fact  is  more  plainly  asserted 
or  more  amply  proved.  Let  us  receive  and 
rest  upon  it.  He  who  has  no  heart  to  praise 
the  incarnate  mystery,  has  none  of  the  spirit 
of  heaven.  What  a  shame  it  is  that  the  song 
of  angels  announcing  Christ's  birth  "has  never 
been  answered  by  a  general  shout  of  gratitude 
from  earth.  Only  a  few  faint  voices  from  the 
low  places  of  earth  have  responded  to  the  loud 
concert  of  angels."  0  that  must  be  a  bad 
heart  which  loves  not  the  Saviour.  Many 
hear  of  his  love  with  hearts  colder  than  mar- 
ble. Such  hearts  cannot  be  right  in  the  sight 
of  God.  No  heart  is  good  that  loves  not  good- 
ness incarnate.  If  Christ's  incarnation  has  its 
mysteriousness,  it  yet  is  the  only  doctrine  that 
enables  us  to  unlock  every  text  of  Scripture 
relating  to  his  person.  It  admits  that  as  God, 
he  made  the  worlds  ;  as  a  child,  he  grew  in 
stature;  as  a  man,  he  was  sorrowful;  as  Me- 
diator and  in  a  low  condition,  he  said,  "The 
Father  is  greater  than  I •"  and  as  God-man,  he 
stands  between  Jehovah  and  us.  Let  us  hum- 
bly and  piously  receive  this  doctrine;  for  as 
the  Atliiiiinsiaii  Creed  says,  "It  is  necessary  to 
rlasting  salvation,  that  we  believe  rightly 
the  incarnation  of  Jesus  Christ." 


78        THE  KOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

2.  Salvation  is  clearly  and  wholly  of  the 
Lord.  The  devising  of  the  scheme  is  as  clearly 
divine  as  the  execution  and  application.  Hu- 
man wit,  and  wisdom,  and  strength,  and  merit 
are  nothing  in  such  a  work.  "Boasting  is  ex- 
cluded by  the  law  of  faith."  We  are  nothing ; 
we  can  do  nothing ;  we  deserve  nothing.  Our 
Lord  has  won  the  crown,  a»d  he  shall  wear  it. 
It  is  his  of  right ;  it  shall  be  his  in  fact. 

3.  Let  us  give  Grod  his  own  time*  He 
knows  what  is  best.  He  took  four  thousand 
years  to  prepare  the  way  for  the  coming  of 
the  Redeemer.  With  the  Lord  one  day  is  as 
a  thousand  years,  and  a  thousand  years  as  one 
day.  We  are  no  judges  of  what  is  best  or 
wisest.  There  is  as  much  wisdom  in  saying, 
"  When  thou  wilt,"  as  in  saying,  "  What  thou 
wilt,"  or  "How  thou  wilt." 

4.  If  any  ask,  Are  we  bound  to  celebrate 
the  birth  of  Christ  on  any  given  day  of  the 
year  ?  the  answer  is,  Grod  has  given  no  such 
command,  and  he  is  sole  Lawgiver  in  his 
church.  There  is  no  proof  that  for  centuries 
the  primitive  church  had  any  such  observance. 
When  such  a  day  was  at  length  observed, 
many  churches  fixed  on  the  sixth  clay  of  Jan- 
uary.    Many  learned  men  contend  that  Christ 


THE  INCARNATION  OF  CHRIST.         79 

was  born  in  October.  Some  think  he  was 
born  in  May.  It  seems  certain  that  the  Ro- 
man emperor  would  not  require  women  as 
well  as  men  to  take  long  journeys  in  the 
depths  of  winter,  and  that  shepherds  would 
not  then  be  watching  their  flocks  in  the  open 
air.  Compare  Matt.  24:20  and  Mark  13:18. 
But  if  any  man  observe  a  day  in  honor  of  our 
Lord's  nativity,  let  him  keep  it  unto  the  Lord. 
M  One  man  esteemeth  one  day  above  another; 
another  esteemeth  every  day  alike  ;  let  every 
man  be  fully  persuaded  in  his  own  mind." 
Romans  14:5.  It  is,  however,  a  significant 
fact,  that  God  has  concealed  from  us  any 
positive  knowledge  of  the  day,  the  month, 
and  even  the  year  of  our  Saviour's  birth. 


80        THE  KOCK  OF  OUK  SALVATION. 
CHAPTEE  V. 

THE  MESSIAHSHIP  OF  JESUS. 

In  the  English  Bible  we  have  the  word 
Messiah,  or  Messias,  four  times ;  twice  in  Dan- 
iel, and  twice  in  John.  But  in  the  original 
Scriptures  we  have  the  word  forty  times.  It 
is  commonly  translated,  and  often  points  to 
the  Saviour.  In  the  New  Testament  we  have 
the  word  Christ  more  than  live  hundred  and 
sixty  times.  Both  Messiah  and  Christ  signify 
anointed. 

Jesus  Christ  was  but  once  anointed  with 
material  oil,  and  that  not  by  an  official,  but  by 
a  woman ;  not  to  his  office,  but  to  his  burial. 

Jesus  Christ  was  anointed  to  office  by  su- 
perabundant influences  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  who 
is  the  oil  of  gladness  indeed.  Ps.  45  :  7  ;  Heb. 
1:9;  Matt.  3:16;  Luke  4  : 1,  14,  16.  The 
Father  gave  not  the  Spirit  by  measure  unto 
him.    John  3  :  34. 

That  the  Jews  and  others  expected  a  great 
deliverer,  called  by  the  prophets  Messiah,  can- 
not be  denied.  The  woman  of  S|maria,  igno- 
rant as  she  was,  said,  "I  know  that  Messias 


THE  MESSIAHSHIP  OF  JESUS.  81 

cometh."  John  4 :25.  Luke  says,  "The  people 
were  in  expectation,  and  all  men  mused  in 
their  hearts  of  John,  whether  he  were  the 
Christ  or  not."  Luke  3  :  15.  Indeed,  there 
is  evidence  that  the  ancients  generally  ex- 
pected a  great  deliverer  to  arise. 

In  inquiring  into  the  Messiahship  of  Jesus 
of  Nazareth;  the  Jewish  Scriptures  are  taken 
for  truth.  AVe  believe  all  that  is  written  in 
the  law,  and  in  the  Psalms,  and  in  the  proph- 
ets. Besides,  it  is  clear  that  if  Jesus  is  not  the 
promised  deliverer,  then  the  Messiah  has  not 
yet  appeared.  Jews  and  Christians  alike  reject 
all  the  pretenders  who  have  arisen  from  the 
time  of  the  Emperor  Adrian  to  the  year  1666, 
when  Sabatai  Sevi  for  a  while  deceived  some. 
Nor  is  there  any  dispute  between  Jews  and 
Christians  as  to  the  need  of  Messiah.  We  all, 
in  words  at  least,  confess  that  we  are  undone 
without  him.  Nor  is  there  any  doubt  that  for 
some  cause  great  calamities  have  overtaken 
the  Jews.  They  admit  it.  Rabbi  David  Levi 
Bpeaks  of  the  facts  of  "the  exact  accomplish- 
ment of  every  event  foretold  by  Moses  as 
a  Hording  such  clear  and  unequivocal  proofs  of 
divine  inspiration  as  to  strike  the  deist  and 
infidel  dumb."  Be  says:  "I  am  free  to  assert, 
V 


82        THE  KOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

no   nation   ever   suffered   the   like   during  a 

period  of  almost  eighteen  hundred  years 

The  punishments  which  Moses  denounced 
against  the  Jews  have  been  exactly  fulfilled 
in  every  particular.'7  Nor  is  there  any  dis- 
pute as  to  whether  Jesus  of  Nazareth  lived, 
and  taught,  and  died  cm  the  cross.  Jews  and 
Christians,  Mohammedans  and  Infidels  are 
alike  agreed  on  this  point.  This  chapter  is  an 
argument  for  the  Messiahship  of  the  great 
teacher  of  Nazareth. 

The  first  question  to  be  considered  is  : 
I.  Has  the  time  fixed  by  prophecy  for 

THE  COMING  OF  THE  MESSIAH  ALREADY  PASSED  ? 

The  correct  answer  is,  It  has.  The  argu- 
ments are  clear  and  decisive. 

On  his  deathbed  Jacob  uttered  this  pre- 
diction :  "The  sceptre  shall  not  depart  from 
Judah,  nor  a  lawgiver  from  between  his  feet, 
until  Shiloh  come,  and  to  him  shall  the  gath- 
ering of  the  people  be."  Gen.  49  :  10.  The 
word  here  rendered  sceptre  is  used  in  that 
sense  by  no  less  than  six  prophets.  Num. 
24  :  17  ;  Ps.  45  :  6  ;  Isa.  14:5;  Ezek.  19  :  11, 
14  ;  Amos  1:5,  8  ;  Zech.  10:11  ;  and  sceptre 
in  this  clause  corresponds  with  lawgiver  in 
the  next.     The  Septuagint  gives  it  this  sense, 


THE  MESSIAHSHIP  OF  JESUS.  83 

and  so  do  ancient  Jewish  interpreters  and  the 
Chaldee  Paraphrase.  That  Shiloh  points  to 
the  Messiah  is  also,  admitted  by  the  three 
Chaldee  paraphrasts,  the  Jewish  Talmud,  and 
ial  later  Jews  ;  and  that  the  word  signi- 
fies Saviour,  or  Peacemaker,  or  Sufferer,  of 
the  Son,  or  the  Sent,  has  the  consent  of  nearly 
all  the  best  scholars.  Nor  can  wre  get  any 
good  sense  from  the  passage  "unless  we  admit 
that  Shiloh  means  Messiah.  '"To  him  shall 
the  gathering  of  the  people  be,77  is  a  phrase 
like  that  of  Isaiah  predicting  the  same  person : 
•lie  shall  stand  for  an  ensign  of  the  people." 
Isa.  11  :  10.  That  the  sceptre  or  political 
power  did  continue  with  Judah  until  the  birth 
of  Jesus  of  Nazareth  is  evident ;  for  though 
Herod  was  not  of  that  tribe,  but  was  an  Idu- 
mean,  yet  the  Jewish  senate  did  never  swear 
fealty  to  him  till  after  the  birth  of  Christ.  But 
in  the  days  of  Titus,  about  the  year  70,  all 
show  and  form  of  political  power  forsook  the 
Jews.  From  that  time  they  had  not  the  small- 
est remnant  of  dominion.  But  their  father  and 
prophet  Jacob  said  their  power  should  last 
till  Messias  should  come.  Therefore  the  time 
for  the  coming  of  Messias  is  already  past. 
The   same   thing  might  be   argued   from 


84        THE  BOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

Psalm  40:6-8:  "Sacrifice  and  offering  thou 
didst  not  desire  ;  mine  ears  hast  thou  opened  : 
burnt-offering  and  sin-offering  hast  thou  not  re- 
quired. Then  said  I,  Lo,  I  come :  in  the  volume 
of  the  book  it  is  written  of  me,  I  delight  to  do 
thy  will,  0  my  God."  The  blood  of  bulls  and 
goats  never  did  expiate  the  sins  of  men.  Even 
as  types,  they  were  to  be  wholly  abolished 
after  the  coming  of  Christ.  Here  then  we 
have  the  prediction  that  the  legal  sacrifices 
shall  be  abolished  when  He  that  is  to  come, 
the  Messiah,  shall  do  the  work  so  pleasing  to 
God.  It  is  now  eighteen  centuries  since  any 
Jewish  priest  offered  a  bloody  sacrifice.  When 
God  would  wholly  reject  sacrifices,  Messiah 
was  to  do  his  will.  Sacrifices  have  ceased,  and 
where  is  Messiah,  if  Jesus  of  Nazareth  is  not  he  ? 
Another  prophecy  fixing  the  time  for  the 
coming  and  death  of  Messiah  is  found  in  Dan- 
iel 9  :24-27:  "Seventy  weeks  are  determined 
upon  thy  people  and  upon  thy  holy  city,  to 
finish  the  transgression,  and  to  make  an  end 
of  sins,  and  to  make  reconciliation  for  ini- 
quity, and  to  bring  in  everlasting  righteous- 
ness, and  to  seal  up  the  vision  and  prophecy, 
and  to  anoint  the  Most  Holy.  Know  there- 
fore   and    understand,   that   from   the    going 


THE  MESSIAHSHIP  OF  JESUS.  85 

forth  of  the  commandment  to  restore  and  to 
build  Jerusalem  unto  the  Messiah  the  Prince, 
shall  be  seven  weeks,  and  threescore  and  two 
weeks:  the  street  shall  be  built  again,  and  the 
wall,  even  in  troublous  times.  And  after  three- 
score and  two  weeks  shall  Messiah  be  cut  off, 
but  not  for  himself:  and  the  people  of  the 
prince  that  shall  come  shall  destroy  the  city 
and  the  sanctuary ;  and  the  end  thereof  shall 
be  with  a  flood,  and  unto  the  end  of  the  war 
desolations  are  determined.  And  he  shall 
confirm  the  covenant  with  many  for  one  week : 
and  in  the  midst  of  the  week  he  shall  cause 
the  sacrifice  and  the  oblation  to  cease,  and  for 
the  overspreading  of  abominations  he  shall 
make  it  desolate,  even  until  the  consummation, 
and  that  determined  shall  be  poured  upon  the 
desolate." 

The  rule  by  which  time  is  here  counted  is 
doubtless  that  given  by  Ezekiel (4:6):  "I  have 
appointed  thee  each  day  for  a  year;"  so  that 
by  seventy  weeks  we  are  to  understand  four 
hundred  and  ninety  years.  This  is  the  longest 
time  we  have  any  reason  for  giving  to  the 
eoinputation  of  the  seventy  weeks. 

These  weeks  were  to  date  from  "the  going 
forth  of  the  commandment  to  restore  and  to 


86        THE  BOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

build"  Jerusalem.  There  were  four  decrees 
respecting  the  return  of  the  Jews  from  Baby- 
lon.   One  was  issued  in  the  first  year  of  Cyrus. 

Ezra  1:1-4.    The  next  came  out  in  the  second 

• 

year  of  Darius.  Ezra  6  :1-12.  The  third  was 
in  the  seventh  year  of  Artaxerxes.  Ezra 
7  :  11-26.  The  fourth  and  last  was  in  the 
twentieth  year  of  Artaxerxes.  Neh.  2:1.  The 
first  two  edicts  speak  of  rebuilding  the  temple 
only.  But  the  prophecy  requires  that  the 
decree  should  relate  to  the  rebuilding  of  the 
city,  its  walls  and  streets.  So,  counting  from 
the  last  two  decrees,  we  have  "  seventy  weeks 
of  solar  years  from  one  of  them,  and  as  many 
weeks  of  lunar  years  from  the  other"  till  the 
death  of  Christ.  But  count  as  we  may,  the 
seventy  weeks  of  Daniel  must  have  expired 
more  than  eighteen  hundred  years  ago. 

More  than  this,  the  prophecy  says  Messiah 
was  to  be  cut  off  before  the  overflowing  deso- 
lation befell  Hie  holy  city.  All  history  de- 
clares that  Jesus  was  crucified  more  than 
thirty-three  years  before  the  armies  of  Eome 
laid  waste  Jerusalem.  Surely  the  time  for  the 
coming  of  Messiah  is  past,  and  Jesus  of  Naza- 
reth came  neither  too  soon  nor  too  late  to  meet 
the  demands  of  prophecy  in  this  respect. 


THE  MESSIAHSHIP  OF  JESUS.  87 

I  adduce  but  one  other  passage  to  show 
that  Messiah  has  come:  "Thus  saith  the  Lord 
of  hosts,  Yet  once,  it  is*  a  little  while,  and  I 
will  shake  the  heavens,  and  the  earth,  and  the 
sea,  and  the  dry  land ;  and  I  will  shake  all 
nations,  and  the  Desire  of  all  nations  shall 
come  :  and  I  will  fill  this  house  with  glory, 

saith  the  Lord  of  hosts The  glory  of 

this  latter  house  shall  be  greater  than  of 
the  former,  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts."  Hag. 
2  :  6-9.  By  this  sure  word,  Messiah, "the  De- 
sire of  all  nations,"  was  to  appear  during  the 
time  of  the  second  temple,  here  called  "this 
latter  house."  It  is  also  evident,  as  none  will 
deny,  that  the  second  temple  was  destroyed 
by  the  Romans.  Not  one  stone  was  left  upon 
another.  Messiah,  therefore,  must  have  come. 
This  passage  also  teaches  that  the  glory  of  the 
second  temple  should  excel  the  glory  of  the 
fast  Thia  promised  glory  did  not  consist  in  the 
superior  magnificence  of  the  structure,  "for 
many  of  the  priests,  and  Levites,  and  chief  of 
the  fathers,  who  were  ancient  men,  that  had 

i  the  first  house,  when  the  foundation  of 
this  house  was  laid  before  their  eyes,  wept 
with  a  loud  voice,"  says  an  eye-witness,  Ezra, 
Indeed,   in   the  very  chapter   containing  the 


88        THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

prophecy  Haggai  has  these  words,  "Who  is 
left  among  you  that  saw  this  house  in  her  first 
glory?  and  how  do  ye  see  it  now?  is  it  not  in 
your  eyes  in  comparison  of  it  as  nothing  ?"  So 
that  the  second  temple  was  inferior  to  the  first ; 
and  yet  the  second  house  was  to  have  a  glory 
surpassing  the  glory  of  the  first.  What  was  it? 
Nor  was  the  second  temple  equal,  much 
less  superior  to  the  first  in  its  appendages. 
For  it  is  admitted  that  the  first  temple  had, 
and  that  the  second  temple  lacked,  the  holy 
fire,  which  came  from  heaven,  the  spirit  of 
prophecy,  the  ark  of  the  covenant,  the  She- 
chinah  and  the  Urim  and  Thummim.  In  the 
eyes  of  Jews  these  were  grand  things.  But 
they  were  not  found  in  the  second  temple,  and 
they  were  in  the  first.  The  promised  supe- 
rior glory  of  the  latter  house  must  have  been 
that  in  it  Messiah,  "the  Desire  of  all  nations," 
was  to  appear.  Malachi  says:  "The  Lord, 
whom  ye  seek,  shall  suddenly  come  to  his 
temple,  even  the  messenger  of  the  covenant 
whom  ye  delight  in.77  This  key  unlocks  the 
mystery.  Simeon  told  us  what  this  glory  was, 
when  "he  came  by  the  Spirit  into  the  tem- 
ple, and  when  the  parents  brought.in  the  child 
Jesus,  to  do  for  him  after  the  custom  of  the 


THE  MESSIAHSHIP  OF  JESUS.  89 

law,  he  took  him  up  in  his  arms  and  blessed 
God,  and  said,  Lord,  now  let-test  thou  thy  ser- 
vant depart  in  peace,  according  to  thy  word, 
for  mine  eyes  have  seen  thy  salvation,  which 
thou  hast  prepared  before  the  face  of  all  peo- 
ple, a  light  to  lighten  the  Gentiles,  and  the 
glory  of  thy  people  Israel.77  Luke  2  :  27-32. 
Thus  it  has  been  shown  by  four  prophecies 
uttered  during  a  period  of  eleven  hundred  and 
sixty-nine  years,  the  first  B.  c.  1689,  the  sec- 
ond, b.  a  1020,  the  third  b.  c.  538,  and  the 
fourth  b.  c.  520,  that  the  time  for  the  coming 
of  the  Messiah  is  already  past. 

The  second  question  to  be  considered  is, 
II.  Does  Jesus  of  Nazareth  meet  the 

DEMANDS  OF  PROPHECY  RESPECTING  THE  MES- 
SIAH ? 

Surely  he  does.  Messiah  was  to  be  a 
lineal  descendant  of  David.  He  was  to  be  "a 
root  of  Jesse,77  "a  rod  out  of  the  stem  of 
Jesse.77  Isa.  11 : 1,  10.  The  first  words  of  the 
first  gospel  are:  "The  book  of  the  generation 
of  Jesus  Christ,  the  son  of  David,77  and  then 
hifl  genealogy  is  traced  from  Abraham  through 
David.  The  scribes  said  that  the  promised 
"Christ  is  the'  son  of  David.77  When  our 
Lord  said,  "  What  think  ye  of  Christ?  whose 


90        THE  EOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

son  is  he  ?  they  say  unto  him,  He  is  the  son 
of  David."  Matt.  22  :  42.  When  men  saw  his 
miracles,  they  said,  "  Is  not  this  the  son  of 
David?"  The  blind  men  so  saluted  him.  Luke 
18  :  38.  The  hosanna  of  the  multitude  was 
M  to  the  son  of  David."  Matt,  21 :  9,  15.  In- 
deed, before  Jesus  was  born,  the  genealogy  of 
Mary  the  mother  of  Jesus,  and  of  Joseph  her 
husband,  were  determined  by  the  very  pro- 
cess of  law  by  which  the  lands  of  Judea  were 
held,  and  this  under  the  decree  of  the  Roman 
emperor.  Jesus  meets  this  requirement  of 
prophecy.  He  is  the  lineal  descendant  of 
David.  None  of  the  false  Christs  have  given 
the  slightest  evidence  that  they  were  de- 
scended from  David.  Should  any  arise  here- 
after, they  can  never  show  their  descent  from 
David,  for  the  genealogical  tables  of  his  family 
and  of  his  tribe  are  confessedly  irrecoverably 
lost.  No  man  even  pretends  to  have  them  in 
possession. 

The  prophets  further  said  that  Messiah 
should  be  born  in  Bethlehem  of  Judea.  So 
the  chief  priests  and  scribes  informed  Herod, 
correctly  quoting  Micah  5  :  2  in  proof:  "Thou 
Bethlehem,  in  the  land  of  Juda,  art  not  the 
least   among   the    princes   of  Juda."     Matt. 


THE  MESSIAHSHIP  OF  JESUS.  91 

2  :  4-6.  Xow  it  is  matter  of  common  notori- 
ety that  "Jesus  was  born  in  Bethlehem  of 
Judea."  Matt.  2:1.  Truly,  God  governs 
all  things.  Just  before  the  birth  of  Jesus, 
his  mother  and  her  betrothed  husband  were 
required  by  an  imperial  edict  to  repair  to 
Bethlehem,  some  distance  from  their  usual 
residence,  there  to  be  duly  registered,  "be- 
cause they  were  of  the  house  and  lineage  of 
David/7  and  there  to  us  was  born  "in  the  city 
of  David  a  Saviour,  which  is  Christ  the  Lord." 
Luke  2 :4, 11.  None  of  the  false  Christs  either 
proved  or  claimed  that  they  had  been  born  in 
Bethlehem. 

Prophecy  required  that  Messiah  should  be 
born  in  a  miraculous  manner:  "The  Lord 
himself  shall  give  you  a  sign:  Behold  a  virgin 
shall  conceive  and  bear  a  son,  and  shall  call 
his  name  Emmanuel,"  which  being  interpreted 
is  "God  with  us."  Isa.  7  :  14.  That  Jesus 
was  thus  born  the  angel  declared  at  the  time 
of  his  conception;  that  he  was  thus  born  was 
admitted  by  the  husband  of  his  mother,  who 
fully  vindicated  the  purity  and  innocence  of 
his  wife  :  that  he  was  thus  born  God  and  an- 
and  men  have  borne  witness.  No  one 
else  was  ever  thus  born. 


92        THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

Jesus  and  none  else  endured  all  the  suf- 
fering which  prophecy  decreed  to  Messiah. 
He  had  no  form  nor  comeliness,  and  when  we 
saw  him  there  was  no  beauty  that  w&  should 
desire  him.  He  was  despised  and  rejected  of 
men,  a  man  of  sorrows,  and  acquainted  with 
grief;  we  hid  our  faces  from  him  ;  we  esteemed 
him  not.  His  visage  was  so  marred  more  than 
any  man,  and  his  form  more  than  the  sons  of 
men.  He  made  himself  of  no  reputation.  He 
took  upon  him  the  form  of  a  servant.  Proph- 
ecy said :  "  They  weighed  for  my  price  thirty 
pieces  of  silver.'7  Zech.  11  :  12.  The  chief 
priests  covenanted  with  Judas  "for  thirty 
pieces  of  silver."  Matt.  26  :15.  The  Psalmist 
predicted  :  "They  pierced  my  hands  and  my 
feet."  Ps.  22  :  16.  Isaiah  (53  : 5)  said-:  "He 
was  wounded."  Zechariah (12:10) said:  "They 
shall  look  on  me,  whom  they  have  pierced." 
We  all  know  how  his  hands  and  his  feet  were 
pierced  by  the  nails,  how  the  soldiers  pierced 
his  side,  and  how  Jesus  himself  afterwards 
showed  the  print  of  the  nails.  In  Psalm  22  :7, 
8,  we  read,  "They  shall  laugh  him  to  scorn, 
and  shake  their  heads,  saying,  He  trusted  in 
the  Lord  that  he  would  deliver  him.  Let  him 
deliver  him,  seeing  he  delighted  in  him."     In 


THE  MESSIAHSHIP  OF  JESUS.  93 

Matthew  27:39, 43,  we  read,  "They  that  passed 
by]  reviled  him,  wagging  their  heads,  and  say- 
ing, He  trusted  in  God,  let  him  deliver  him 
now,  if  he  will  have  him,  for  he  said,  I  am  the 
Son  of  God."  Isaiah  says,  "He  was  numbered 
with  the  transgressors."  Mark  says,  "He  was 
crucified  between  two  thieves."  The  prophet 
says,  "In  my  thirst  they  gave  me  vinegar  to 
drink."  His  biographers  tell  us  how  "Jesus, 
that  the  Scripture  might  be  fulfilled,  said,  I 
thirst,  and  they  took  a  sponge  and  filled  it  with 
vinegar,  and  put  it  on  a  reecl,  and  gave  it  him 
to  drink."  The  prophets  said,  "They  part  my 
garments  among  them,  and  cast  lots  upon  my 
vesture."  In  the  gospels  we  learn  how  the 
soldiers  "took  his  garments,  and  made  four 
parts,  to  every  soldier  a  part,  and  also  his 
coat :  now  the  coat  was  without  seam,  woven 
from  the  top  throughout.  They  said  therefore 
among  themselves,  Let  us  not  rend  it,  but  cast 
lots  for  it,  whose  it  shall  be."  Isaiah  and 
Daniel  foretold  that  he  should  be  cut  off.  No 
living  man  denies  that  Jesus  died  a  violent 
death. 

[saiab  said  he  should  be  "brought  as  a 
lamb  to  the  slaughter,  and  as  a  sheep  before 
her  .-hearers  is  dumb,  so  he  opened  not  his 


94        THE  KOCK  OF  OITE  SALVATION. 

mouth."  All  history  tells  how  meekly,  and 
•silently,  ard  patiently  he  endured.  "  When 
he  suffered,  he  threatened  not." 

Prophecy  foretold  that  he  should  trium- 
phantly enter  Jerusalem  riding  upon  a  young- 
ass.  In  this  way  did  he  meekly  enter  the 
holy  city,  weeping  over  its  impending  ruin. 
Indeed,  time  would  fail  us  to  tell  how,  accord- 
ing to  prophecy,  not  a  bone  of  him  was  broken, 
how  he  died  with  the  wicked,  how  he  made 
his  grave  with  the  rich,  how  he  never  saw 
corruption,  how  according  to  the  prophecy  he 
is  sitting  at  the  right  hand  of  God,  to  the 
intent  that  "all  the  house  of  Israel  might  know 
assuredly,  that  God  hath  made  that  same  Jesus 
whom  they  crucified  both  Lord  and  Christ." 

Look  at  another  matter.  By  the  prophet 
Amos  God  says  :  "  Surely  the  Lord  God  will 
do  nothing,  but  he  revealeth  his  secret  unto 
his  servants  the  prophets"  (3:7).  It  cannot  be 
denied  that  Jesus  of  Nazareth  has  done  more 
to  change  the  opinions  and  practices  of  man- 
kind than  Cyrus,  and  Alexander  the  Great, 
and  the  Roman  empire.  Yet,  if  he  is  not  the 
Messiah,  the  Old  Testament  is  silent  concern- 
ing him.  No  man  or  set  of  men  have  ever 
changed  the  opinions  of  enlightened  nations 


THE  MESSIAHSHIP  OF  JESUS.  95 

as  Jesus  did.  Yet.  if  he  is  not  the  Messiah, 
God  never  showed  his  prophets  any  thing' 
concerning  him.  Can  it  be  believed  that  God 
has  never  by  any  prophet  said  a  word  to 
warn  mankind  against  him,  or  to  invite  them 
to  receive  him  ? — him  whose  coming  has  done 
more  to  revolutionize  men's  opinions,  to  mol- 
lify asperities,  to  diffuse  virtue  and  happiness 
among  the  most  enlightened  nations,  than  any 
other  hundred  men  that  ever  lived. 

1.  Let  Christians  greatly  rejoice  in  the 
abundant  evidence  of  the  divine  mission  of 
Jesus.  In  embracing  his  doctrine  we  are  not 
following  cunningly  devised  fables.  0  no ! 
Jesus  was  truth  itself. 

2.  If  in  Jesus  of  Nazareth  we  have  found 
the  Messiah,  have  we  embraced  him?  Such  a 
Deliverer  is  not  to  be  put  off  with  civilities 
and  compliments.  We  may  say,  Lord,  Lord; 
but  w§  must  do  more.  We  must  take  his  yoke 
upon  us.  We  must  do  his  will.  We  must 
embrace  him,  and  rely  on  him.  We  must  by 
the  Holy  Ghost  call  him  Lord.  Have  you  in 
your  heart  received  him!  An  American  error- 
ist  lias  written  a  book  in  which  he  calls  him 
the  ''Magnificent  Jesus.''   He  is  far  more  than 


96         THE  KOCK  OF  OUK  SALVATION. 

that.  The  temple  at  Jerusalem  was  magnifi- 
cent. The  temple  of  Diana  was  magnificent. 
Jesus  is  the  Messiah,  the  Saviour  of  lost  men, 
the  Son  of  God.  He  is  to  be  obeyed  and 
loved,  adored  and  embraced.  God  has  set 
forth  his  Son  as  an  object  of  religious  faith. 
Will  you  receive  him  as  such  ?  Without  faith 
in  him  we  cannot  be  saved.  Himself  said  i  "If 
ye  believe  not  that  I  am  he,  ye  shall  die  in 
your  sins." 

3.  If  we  ourselves  have  found  Jesus  the 
Messiah,  let  us,  like  Andrew,  tell  our  brother 
the  good  news  and  bring  him  to  Jesus.  There 
is  none  like  Jesus.  There  is  none  with  Jesus. 
There  is  none  besides  Jesus.  He  is  the  Son 
of  God.  He  can  save,  and  he  alone.  Oh  that 
you  would  embrace  him  and  then  persuade 
others  to  do  so  too.  You  will  soon  need  his 
help.  A  great  master  of  logic  has  recently 
left  the  world.  When  one  of  the  clergy  spoke 
of  his  fortitude  in  looking  death  in  the  face, 
he  said  :  "Talk  not  to  me  of  fortitude;  it  is 
my  faith  in  Christ  that  gives  mc  grace  and 
strength." 

4.  Pray  for  the  Jews.  God  can  open  their 
eyes.  None  else  can.  It  is  affecting  to  hear 
them  on  this  point.     Dr.  Eaphall,  formerly  of 


THE  MESSIAHSHIP  OF  JESUS.  97 

England,  now  of  New  York,  sa}'S  :  '"  "While  I 
and  the  Jews  of  the  present  day  protest 
against  being  identified  with  the  zealots  who 
were  concerned  in  the  proceedings  against 
Jesus  of  Nazareth,  we  are  far  from  reviling 
his  character  or  deriding  his  precepts,  which 
are,  indeed,  for  the  most  part,  the  precepts  of 
Moses  and  the  prpphets.  You  have  heard  me 
style  him  the  '  Great  Teacher  of  Nazareth/  for 
that  designation  I  and  the  Jews  take  to  be 
his  due." 

The  Late  Mordecai  M.  Noah  also  said :  '  •  I 
did  not  term  Jesus  of  Nazareth  an  impostor. 
I  had  never  considered  him  such.  The  impos- 
tor generally  aims  at  temporal  power,  attempts 
to  subsidize  the  rich  and  weak  believer,  and 
draws  around  him  followers  of  influence  whom 
he  can  control.  Jesus  was  free  from  fanati- 
cism: his  was  a  quiet,  subdued,  retiring  faith  ■ 
he  mingled  with  the  poor,  he  communed  with 
the  wretched,  avoided  the  rich,  rebuked  the 
vain-glorious.  In  the  calm  of  the  evening  he 
sought  shelter  in  the  secluded  groves  of  Oli- 
vet, or  wandered  pensively  on  the  shores  of 
iialilee.  He  sincerely  believed  in  his  mis- 
sion ;  he  courted  no  one,  flattered  no  one ;  in 
his  political  denunciations  he  was  pointed  and 


98        THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

severe  ;  in  his  religion  calm  and  subdued. 
These  are  not  the  characteristics  of  an  impos- 
tor ;  but,  admitting  that  we  give  a  different  in- 
terpretation to  his  mission,  when  one  hundred 
and  fifty  millions  believe  in  his  divinity,  and 
we  see  around  us  abundant  evidence  of  the 
happiness,  good  faith,  mild  government,  and 
liberal  feelings,  which  spring  from  his  reli- 
gion, what  right  has  any  one  to  call  him  an 
impostor  ?  That  religion  which  is  calculated 
to  make  mankind  great  and  happy  cannot  be 
a  false  one." 

i 

PRAYER. 

0  God,  bring  the  children  of  Abraham  to 
embrace  Jesus  Christ  {  and  to  us  and  to  all 
that  dwell  in  this  land  give  hearts  to  receive 
thy  Son,  to  believe  on  his  name,  to  own  him 
as  our  Saviour;  so  that  all  the  blessings  of 
the  covenant  of  grace  may  come  on  us  and 
overtake  us  ;  that  we  may  be  blessed  in  the 
city  and  in  the  field  ;  that  thy  blessing  may 
rest  on  the  fruit  of  our  body,  and  on  the  fruit 
of  our  ground,  and  the  fruit  of  our  cattle,  and 
the  increase  of  our  kine,  and  the  flocks  of  our 
sheep ;  that  thy  blessing  may  rest  on  our  bas- 
ket and  on  our  store  ;  that  we  may  be  blessed 


THE  MESSIAHSHIP  OF  JESUS.  99 

when  we  come  in  and  blessed  when  we  go 
out ;  and  that  they  who  come  out  against  us 
one  way  may  flee  before  us  seven  ways.  Oh 
that  all  the  land  and  world  may  soon  avouch 
the  Lord  Jehovah  to  be  their  God,  his  Son 
Jesus  Christ  to  be  their  Saviour;  his  Holy 
Spirit  to  be  their  Sanctifier,  Comforter  and 
Guide ;  and  unto  the  King  eternal,  immortal, 
and  invisible,  the  only  wise  God  our  Saviour, 
be  glory,  and  honor,  dominion  and  power, 
now  and  for  ever.     Amen. 


100      THE  ROCK  OF  OUE  SALVATION. 
CHAPTEE  VI. 

CHKIST  THE  MEDIATOE. 

The  word  Mediator  is  not  found  in  the 
English  version  of  the  Old  Testament.  There 
we  find  the  word  daysman  in  very  much  the 
same  sense,  Job  9  :33.  In  that  place  the  Sep- 
tuagint  version  employs  the  word  rendered  in 
the  New  Testament  mediator.  A  daysman 
was  an  umpire  and  a  reconciler.  In  the  New 
Testament  the  word  mediator  is  found  six 
times.  Once  it  points  to  Moses:  "The  law 
was  ordained  by  angels  in  the  hand  of  a  medi- 
ator." Gal.  3 :19.  Moses  was  a  messenger  to 
make  known  God's  will  to  Israel,  and  to  pre- 
sent the  requests  of  the  people  to  God.  Once 
the  word  mediator  is  clearly  used  in  a  general 
sense,  and  refers  to  no  particular  person.  "  A 
mediator  is  not  a  mediator  of  one ;  but  God  is 
one."  Gal.  3:20.  The  meaning  of  this  verse 
is,  doubtless,  that  a  mediator  cannot  act  where 
there  are  no  parties,  and  that  he  must  act  for 
both  parties.  As  God  is  one,  he  needed  not 
to  be  reconciled  to  himself.  Mediation  comes 
in  between  God  and  those   estranged  from 


CHRIST  THE  MEDIATOR.  101 

him.  Ill  all  other  cases,  the  word  plainly 
refers  to  Christ.  Thus  he  is  said  to  be  "The 
Mediator  of  a  better  covenant,"  and  "The  Me- 
diator of  the  New  Testament."  Heb.  8:6; 
9:15.  In  Heb.  12:24  we  are  said  to  have 
come  "  to  Jesus,  the  Mediator  of  the  new  cov- 
enant." TVre  also  have  the  word  in  1  Tim, 
2:5:  "There  is  one  God,  and  one  Mediator 
between  God  and  men,  the  man  Christ  Jesus." 
Boston  says,  "Mediator  properly  signifies  a 
midsman,  that  travels  betwixt  two  persons 
who  are  at  variance,  to  reconcile  them."  Owen 
says,  "  Christ's  mediation  consists  in  his  being 
the  middle  person  between  God  and  us."  In 
the  Gaelic  version,  the  word  for  mediator  is 
"go-between." 

Jesus  Chjrist  is  Mediator  not  typically,  but 
properly ;  not  partially,  but  completely ;  not 
merely  as  a  messenger  from  God  to  us,  and  as 
one  presenting  our  requests  to  God,  but  as 
one  who  has  removed  all  obstacles  to  friendly 
intercourse  between  God  and  man,  and  brings 
together  in  holy  fellowship  the  offended  Judge 
of  all  the  earth  and  offending  sinners. 

The  doctrine  of  mediation  is  no  novelty.   It 

great  antiquity.  Job  foresaw  the  day  when 

the  Redeemer  should  be  manifest.     Indeed. 


102      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

to  Him  gave  all  the  prophets  witness.  Even 
some  of  the  heathen  had  a  faint  idea  of  medi- 
ation. Plato  says,  "God  does  not  mingle  in 
familiar  intercourse  with  mortals,  but  all  inter- 
course and  conversation  with  him  are  main- 
tained by  means  of  demons,"  or  spirits.  Ever 
since  the  fall,  men  have  been  afraid  of  the 
Divine  presence.  I  find  no  Scripture  for  the 
opinion  that,  "although  man  had  remained 
immaculately  innocent,  yet  his  condition  would 
have  been  too  mean  for  him  to  approach  to 
God  without  a  mediator. "  On  the  contrary, 
our  first  parents  had  delightful  communion 
with  the  Lord  God  until  they  sinned  against 
him.  We  know  of  nothing  in  the  nature  of 
God  or  of  man  to  hinder  their  intercourse 
until  iniquity  separated  between  tjiem.  God's 
tender  mercies  are  over  all  his  works.  He 
stoops  to  the  meanest  worm.  Infinite  conde- 
scension is  one  of  the  glories  of  his  nature. 
Christ's  mediation  fairly  presupposes  man's 
sinfulness  and  alienation  from  God.  Where 
there  is  no  controversy,  there  is  no  room  for 
mediation.  If  persons  are  already  at  one, 
they  need  no  reconciliation.  If  God  loves 
and  approves  man's  course  and  character,  and 
if  man  loves  and  approves  of  God's  ways,  per- 


CHKIST  THE  MEDIATOK.  103 

fections  and  government,  there  is  nothing  to 
keep  them  from  mutual  delight.  There  is  then 
no  contest  between  them ;  nothing  to  be  set- 
tled ;  no  room  for  mediation.  Dick  says  : 
"The  necessity  of  the  mediation  of  Christ 
arises  from  the  existence  of  sin,  which,  being 
contrary  to  the  nature  and  will  of  God,  ren- 
ders  those  who  have  committed  it  obnoxious 
to  his  displeasure." 

Where  there  are  parties  entirely  alienated, 
another,  the  equal  and  friend  of  both,  may 
interpose,  and  tender  his  kind  offices,  and  do 
whatever  he  is  able  honorably  to  reconcile  the 
contestants.  A  mediator  is  different  from  a 
petitioner.  From  his  dignity,  he  has  a  right 
to  be  heard  with  respect  and  candor.  By  his 
divinity,  Christ  was  equal  with  God  ;  by  his 
humanity,  he  was  equal  with  man.  He  was 
so  much  the  friend  of  God,  that  he  was  will- 
ing to  die  for  the  glory  of  divine  justice.  He 
so  much  the  friend  of  man,  that  he  was 
willing  to  lay  down  his  life  for  human  re- 
demption. 

The  doctrine  of  mediation  is  that  which 
chiefly  distinguishes  genuine  Christianity  from 
a  system  of  pure  deism.  Let  us  consider  this 
subject: 


104:     THE  EOCK  OF  OUK  SALVATION. 

I.  The  advantages  of  mediation  as  a  meth- 
od of  reconciling  God  and  man  are  many. 

1.  It  is  very  humbling  to  man,  the  sinner, 
the  wrong -doer.  It  says  to  him,  You  are 
unworthy  and  unfit  to  come  into  the  presence 
of  God.  You  can  neither  justify  nor  excuse 
your  wicked  conduct.  You  are  rejected.  God 
will  not  even  treat  with  you  in  your  own  name. 
He  utterly  abhors  all  your  works,  all  your 
pleas,  all  your  merits.  You  are  condemned. 
You  are  vile. 

2.  A  system  of  mediation  is  more  honora- 
ble to  God  than  any  other  mode  of  reconcilia- 
tion could  be.  It  shows  that  he  is  infinitely 
just  and  holy;  so  that  he  cannot  look  upon 
sin,  or  have  any  close,  friendly  intercourse 
with  sinners,  except  through  a  third  party — 
one  in  whom  he  is  well-pleased. 

3.  Mediation  marks  sin  as  very  base,  de- 
serving all  the  woes  and  wrath  denounced 
against  it.  Though  God  is  the  Maker  of  our 
bodies  and  the  Father  of  our  spirits,  yet  so 
unspeakably  does  he  detest  sin  and  count  it  a 
horrible  thing,  that  he  refuses  not  only  com- 
munion, but  even  conference,  with  the  offender, 
except  through  the  Son  of  his  love. 

4.  A  system  of  mediation  marks  sin  as  a 


CHRIST  THE  MEDIATOR.  105 

public  offence,  demanding  a"  public  satisfaction 
and  reparation.  It  is  no  private  wrong  that 
can  be  secretly  repaired  or  adjusted.  In  ac- 
cepting Christ  as  Mediator,  every  sinner  con- 
fesses, before  angels  and  men,  that  he  has 
insulted  and  injured  the  government  of  God, 
and  done  what  in  him  lay  to  disturb  the  order 
and  harmony  of  the  universe. 

II.  Let  us  consider  Christ's  fitness  for  the 
work  of  mediation. 

1.  His  person  is  wonderfully  and  admira- 
bly constituted.  He  is  at  once  "God  mani- 
fest in  the  flesh"  and  "the  man  Christ  Jesus.'7 
1  Tim.  3:16  and  2:5.  As  a  daysman,  he  can 
lay  his  hand  upon  both  God  and  us.  He 
knows  God's  rights.  He  knows  our  sins. 
By  his  divine  nature,  he  has  zeal  for  the  di- 
vine glory.  By  his  human  nature,  he  has 
sympathy  with  us.  He  has  all  that  is  perfect 
and  infinite  in  God,  and  all  that  is  amiable 
and  excellent  in  man.  He  will  not  betray 
God's  interest,  because  it  is  the  glory  of  his 
Godhead.  He  will  not  betray  our  interest, 
because  it  is  the  crown  of  his  manhood.  He 
bag  the  confidence  of  God  and  of  all  right- 
minded  men.  He  is  in  sympathy  with  Jeho- 
vah on  the  throne,  and  with  man  in  his  misery. 


106      THE  ROOK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

He  knows  what  God  demands,  and  what  man 
requires.  God  has  no  claims  that  Christ  does 
not  hold  to  be  just.  Man  has  no  real  wants 
that  Christ  is  not  ready  to  supply.  From  his 
very  nature,  he  must  vindicate  the  laws  and 
government  of  God,  and  at  the  same  time  hold 
forth  the  cup  of  salvation  to  us  poor  sinners. 
He  can  so  present  our  cause  and  nature  to 
God  that  he  will  not  turn  away  from  us  with 
loathing.  And  he  can  so  present  to  us  the 
glorious  perfections  of  God  as  to  show  us  their 
infinite  amiability.  By  his  divine  nature,  it 
is  no  robbery  for  him  to  assert  equality  with 
God.  God  has  never  denied  him  any  thing : 
"Him  the  Father  heareth  always."  His  claims 
to  be  heard  are  never  questioned  in  heaven. 
For  the  honor  of  God  he  has  poured  out  his 
blood,  infinitely  more  precious  than  the  blood 
of  all  the  pious  martyrs.  And  if  man  can  be 
brought  to  hearken  to  terms  of  peace  at  all, 
surely  it  will  be  by  Jesus  Christ.  He  is  so 
loving,  he  died  so  freely,  he  speaks  so  kindly, 
his  grace  is  so  rich,  and  his  ways  are  so  con- 
descending, that  if  we  will  not  hear  him  we 
will  hear  no  one.  By  his  human  nature  he 
is  capable  of  suffering,  and  in  his  human  na- 
ture he  did  actually  suffer  the  penalty  of  the 


CHKIST  THE  MEDIATOR.  107 

law ;  and  being  without  sin  himself,  he  was  a 
spotless  sacrifice  to  Divine  justice.  By  his 
divine  nature,  which  took  the  human  into 
indissoluble  union  with  itself,  infinite  merit 
attached  to  all  Christ  did  and  suffered.  As 
the  Father,  by  reason  of  Christ's  holiness, 
found  no  fault  in  him,  so  we,  by  reason  of  his 
love  and  gentleness,  are  not  repelled  from 
him.  There  is  no  more  approachable  being 
in  the  universe  than  Jesus  Christ.  If  God  is 
his  Father,  we  are  his  brethren.  As  man  he 
suffered;  as  God  he  satisfied.  His  divinity 
gives  unshaken  stability  to  his  mediation,  as 
well  08  infinite  worth  to  his  humiliation. 

2.  Jesus  Christ  was  chosen  of  God  to  this 
very  office.  The  Father  calls  him  "mine 
elect,  in  whom  my  soul  delighteth."  Isaiah 
42  :1.  He  is  "chosen  of  God,  and  precious." 
1  Pet.  2:4.  Not  by  any  arrogance,  but  by 
Divine  appointment,  he  is  the  first-born  among 
many  brethren.  All  he  said  and  all  he  did 
by  the  commandment  of  his  Father :  "As 
the  Father  gave  me  commandment,  even  so  I 
do."  John  14: 31.  Compare  John  10:18.  God 
iK'vtT  Intrusted  the  work  of  mediation  bar 
twccii  him  and  sinners  to  another,  though  he 
appointed  some  men  as  types  and  shadows  of 


108      THE  BOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

Christ,  who  alone  was  to  do  this  work.  God 
is  in  Christ — God  is  in  none  but  Christ  — 
reconciling  the  world  to  himself.  Christ  is 
our  peace. 

3.  To  the  full  work  of  Mediator  Jesus 
Christ  not  only  brought  ample  qualifications 
and  a  divine  commission,  but  he  has  met  with 
entire  acceptance  from  God.  In  every  way 
possible  God  has  declared  his  confidence  in 
Christ,  and  his  approval  of  his  undertaking. 
Before  his  incarnation,  in  anticipation  of  what 
he  was  yet  to  do,  God  poured  out  his  Spirit 
on  many  souls,  granted  them  pardon,  accept- 
ance, and  renewal,  and  at  death  received  them 
to  glory.  When  Christ  was  on  earth,  and  be- 
fore his  death,  God  expressed  his  approval  of 
him  by  a  voice  from  heaven,  by  amazing  mir- 
acles, and  by  leading  some  truly  to  love  him, 
and  to  forsake  all  and  follow  him.  God  fur- 
ther expressed  approval  of  Christ  by  raising 
him  from  the  dead,  by  giving  him  a  glorious 
admission  into  heaven,  and  a  seat  with  him- 
self on  his  throne.  God  has  further  and 
wondrously  expressed  approbation  of  Christ's 
mediation  by  making  the  preaching  of  Christ 
crucified  the  power  of  God  unto  salvation — 
the  salvation  of  millions,  many  of  whom  were 


CHRIST  THE  MEDIATOR.  109 

sunk  in  almost  unparalleled  guilt,  and  shame, 
and  ignorance,  and  misery,  till  they  heard  and 
believed  tlue  gospel. 

4.  In  suffering  and  dying  for  us  Jesus  Christ 
needed  not  to  subject  himself  to  .humiliation 
but  for  a  time.  He  lived  on  earth  over  thirty 
years.  Thenceforward  his  whole  person  par- 
takes of  incomparable  bliss.  Since  his  ascen- 
sion into  heaven  he  has  no  pains,  no  sorrows, 
no  bitterness  of  soul.  His  short  conflict  was 
followed  by  eternal  triumph ;  his  brief  agony 
by  eternal  joy.  The  lower  he  sunk  on  earth, 
the  higher  he  rises  in  glory.  What  a  blessed 
truth  is  this !  How  could  his  people  be  happy 
if  they  thought  he  was  still  a  sufferer  ? 

Of  course  Christ  is  a  far  better  mediator 
than  Moses.  2  Cor.  3:9.  The  mediation  of 
the  former  was  temporary ;  that  of  the  latter 
•  •VI 'Hasting.  This  is  the  last  dispensation. 
"There  rcmaineth  no  more  sacrifice  for  sins." 
AVe  may  not  expect  "the  bringing  in  of  a  better 
hope.7'  The  mediation  of  Moses  was  typical ; 
that  of  Christ  was  real.  Moses  laid  many 
burdensome  rites  on  the  people;  Christ  ap- 
pointed a  very  simple  worship.  The  ten- 
dency of  the  law,  through  sin,  was  unto  death  ; 
through  faith  the  gospel  gives  life.    Heb.  9  :13, 


110      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

14.  The  former  was  the  ministration  of  death ; 
the  latter  is  the  ministration  of  the  Spirit. 
The  mediation  of  Moses  prepared  men  for  the 
gospel ;  that  of  Christ  prepares  men  for  glory. 
Christ  excels  Moses  in  that  he  is  the  Mediator 
of  a  better  covenant  established  upon  better 
promises.  Heb.  8:6.  Christ  is  more  kind  and 
compassionate  than  Moses.  Both  refused  a 
crown  ;  but  Jesus  wore  a  crown  of  thorns  and 
hung  on  the  cross.  Moses  was  a  servant,  but 
Jesus  Christ  was  a  Son.  Both  the  authority 
and  energy  of  Moses  were  limited  ;  but  Jesus 
raised  the  dead  and  performed  countless  mir- 
acles in  his  own  name,  and  all  power  in  heaven 
and  earth  is  given  unto  him.  Moses  did  a 
good  work  ;  but  Christ  a  far  better  work.  The 
law  was  given  by  Moses  ;  but  grace  and  truth 
came  by  Jesus  Christ. 

III.  Let  us  look  at  some  of  the  great  and 
happy  effects  of  Christ's  mediation. 

1.  Through  it,  and  through  it  only,  do  we 
obtain  correct  and  sufficient  knowledge  of  the 
divine  nature.  Like  Moses,  good  men  cry, 
"Show  me  thy  glory."  Like  the  disciples, 
they  say,  "Show  us  the  Father,  and  it  sufficeth 
us."  We  do  greatly  desire  to  have  before  us 
some  representation  of  God  j  and  as  all  idols 


CHRIST  THE  MEDIATOR.  Ill 

and  images  made  or  conceived  by  man  are  no 
representation  of  him,  but  a  horrible  dishonor 
to  him,  it  is  with  delight  that  we  find  Christ 
the  image  of  God,  the  express  image  of  his 
person.  2  Cor.  4:4;  Col.  1 :  15  ;  Heb.  1 :  3. 
So  that  now  to  know  God,  and  Jesus  Christ, 
whom  he  hath  sent,  is  eternal  life.  John 
17:3.  No  man  can  see  God's  face  and  live. 
No  man  hath  seen  God  at  any  time.  The 
only  begotten  Son,  who  is  in  the  bosom  of  the 
Father,  he  hath  declared  him.  Now,  if  we 
would  know  what  is  the  nature  of  God,  let  us 
look  at  it  through  the  veil  of  Christ's  flesh. 
Himself  says:  "I  and  my  Father  are  one." 
"I  am  in  the  Father,  and  the  Father  in  me ;" 
and  in  yet  stronger  terms,  "  He  that  hath  seen 
me  hath  seen  the  Father." 

2.  It  is  only  by  and  through  the  media- 
tion of  Christ  that  we  can  indulge  any  hope  of 
reconciliation  with  God.  We  cannot  answer 
for  one  of  a  thousand  of  our  offences.  We 
are  justly  condemned.  God  rightly  counts 
us  "  reprobate  silver."  The  single  sin  of  not 
toying  God  with  all  our  heart,  and  mind,  and 
soul,  and  strength,  is  enough  to  blot  out  every 
hope  of  heaven.  But  our  iniquities  have  risen 
up  like  the  mountains.     They  are  more  than 


112      THE  BOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

the  hairs  of  our  heads.  And  the  guilt  of 
every  sin  is  greater  than  any  man  ever  saw 
the  guilt  of  any  sin  to  be.  Surely  there  is 
no  hope  left  us  that  we  shall  ever  see  God's 
face  in  peace,  unless  it  be  by  Christ's  media- 
tion. How  sweet  are  his  precious  words : 
'■'■■I  am  the  door;"  "I  am  the  way,  the  truth, 
and  the  life;  no  man  cometh  to  the  Father 
but  by  me." 

3.  Through  the  mediation  of  Christ,  and 
through  it  alone,  are  our  hearts  brought  into 
such  a  state  that  we  admire  and  delight 
in  God.  The  Holy  Spirit  is  the  Spirit  of 
Christ.  Christ  promised  to  send  that  Spirit 
for  the  conversion  and  purification  of  men's 
hearts.  So  that  now,  us  "  that  were  some- 
time alienated  and  enemies  in  our  mind  by 
wicked  works,  hath  he  reconciled."  Col.  1 :21. 
Christ's  Spirit  by  the  gospel  slays  our  enmity. 
Thus  Christ  is  "  made  unto  us  sanctification." 
By  the  cross  of  Christ  we  are  crucified  unto 
the  world,  and  the  world  unto  us.  All  grace, 
all  saving  virtue  comes  to  us  through  the  me- 
diation of  Christ.  Owen  says:  "God  commu- 
nicates nothing  in  a  way  of  grace  unto  any, 
but  in  and  by  the  person  of  Christ  as  the 
mediator  and  head  of  the  church."  John  1:3  8. 


CHRIST  THE  MEDIATOR.  113 

"The  head  of  every  man  is  Christ,  and  the 
head  of  Christ  is  God."     1  Cor.  11 :  3. 

4.  Through  the  mediation  of  Christ,  and 
not  otherwise,  can  men  be  brought  into  the 
society  and  fellowship  of  angels.  When  the 
believer  is  exploring  the  counsels  of  love  and 
the  glories  of  redemption,  as  he  goes  deep  into 
these  unfathomable  mines,  he  finds  a  bright 
cherub  or  a  burning  seraph  in  the  same  region 
of  exulting  inquiry,  and,  asking  what  they  do 
here,  he  is  told  that  they  have  divine  permis- 
sion to  "look  into  these  things."  Angels 
hymned  the  birth  of  Christ.  Angels  rejoice 
at  the  conversion  of  sinners  and  the  progress 
of  Christ's  kingdom.  Though  Christ  is  not  the 
Saviour  of  angels,  yet  by  virtue  of  his  great 
merit  and  dignity  he  has  become  Lord  of  an- 
gels. They  serve  and  worship  and  obey  him. 
They  are  his  ministers.  God  has  "set  him  at 
his  own  right  hand  in  the  heavenly  places,  far 
above  all  principality,  and  power,  and  might, 
and  dominion,  and  every  name  that  is  named, 
not  only  in  this  world,  but  in  that  which  is  to 
come,  and  hath  put  all  things  under  his  feet, 
and  given  him  to  be  head  over  all  things  to 
fa  chureh.V    Eph.  1 :  20-22.    Thus  saints  and 

Is  constitute    the   one    family  named  in 


114      THE  EOCK  OF  OUE  SALVATION. 

heaven  and  earth.  Thus  "in  the  dispensation 
of  the  fulness  of  times"  he  shall  "gather  to- 
gether in  one  all  things  in  Christ,  both  which 
are  in  heaven,  and  which  are  on  earth."  Eph. 
1 :  10.  The  apostacy  severed  us  from  God 
and  from  one  another.  By  creation  angels 
belonged  to  another  order  of  beings.  The 
work  of  Christ  brings  us  to  love  God  and  one 
another,  and  gives  to  angels  and  men  a  com- 
mon Lord,  the  God-man,  Jesus  Christ. 

5.  The  mediation  of  Christ,  in  an  unpar- 
alleled manner,  makes  known  the  wisdom 
of  God.  That  this  is  so  is  admitted  by  all 
good  men,  who  never  cease  to  admire  the 
wonderful  plan  of  salvation.  That  this  is  so 
is  declared  in  Scripture.  Paul  says  the  whole 
scheme  and  mystery  of  salvation  is,  "to  the 
intent  that  now  unto  the  principalities  and 
powers  in  heavenly  places  might  be  known 
by  the  church  the  manifold  wisdom  of  God." 
Eph.  3:10.  The  scheme  of  Christ's  media- 
tion is  God's  chief  work.  As  poet,  painter, 
sculptor,  and  architect,  Michael  Arigelo  accom- 
plished many  admirable  things ;  but  above  all 
the  rest  his  monument  is  St.  Peter's  at  Eome. 
So  God  has  filled  the  heavens  and  the  earth, 
the  sea  and  the  dry  land  with  wonders  ;  but 


CHEIST  THE  MEDIATOR.  115 

above  all  his  other  works  the  plan  of  salvation 
by  Jesus  Christ  is  God's  monument,  display- 
ing his  infinite  skill  and  wisdom. 

6.  It  is  only  through  the  mediation  of 
Christ  that  the  divine  government  has  consis- 
tency, and  the  divine  attributes  have  harmony, 
in  the  salvation  of  our  race.  "A  God  all 
mercy  is  a  God  unjust."  A  God  all  justice 
could  not  forgive  a  sinner.  In  the  cross  we 
see  mercy  infinite  and  justice  inflexible  kiss- 
ing each  other.  Truth,  which  cannot  swerve, 
here  meets  peace  which  cannot  be  broken. 
Eighteousness,  which  is  the  stability  of  God's 
throne,  by  Christ's  mediation  issues  in  bless- 
ings unparalleled  to  the  rebellious. 

7.  Through  the  mediation  of  Christ,  and 
through  it  alone,  can  an  enlightened  con- 
science ever  find  relief.  But  the  blood  of 
the  covenant  can  hush  the  perturbations  of 
the  most  agonized  soul.  It  gave  peace  to  the 
penitent  thief  on  the  cross,  and  to  the  peni- 
tent murderers  of  Christ.  It  quieted  the  con- 
science of  even  Saul  of  Tarsus,  when  he  relied 
upon  it. 

8.  By  the  mediation  of  Christ,  man  recov- 
ftommnnioii  with  God,  lost  by  the  fall. 

This  is  a  wonderful  result;  "  No^  in  Christ 


116     THE  KOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

Jesus  ye,  who  sometime  were  far  off,  are 
made  nigh  by  the  blood  of  Christ."  Eph. 
2:13.  So  that,  with  the  last  surviving  apos- 
tle, all  Christians  may  unite  in  the  exultant 
exclamation,  "  Truly  our  fellowship  is  with 
the  Father,  and  with  his  Son  Jesus  Christ." 
1  John  1:3.  Bringing  man  into  the  fellow- 
ship of  angels  was  very  glorious,  but  it  was  as 
nothing  compared  with  his  restoration  to  com- 
munion with  God. 

IY.  Christ  is  sole  Mediator.  So  says  the 
Scripture :  "There  is  one  God,  and  one  Medi- 
ator between  God  and  men,  the  man  Christ 
Jesus."  One  such  Mediator  is  enough.  The 
word  of  God  speaks  of  no  more.  The  neces- 
sities of  man  demand  no  more.  By  Scripture 
we  are  as  clearly  shut  up  to  the  faith  of  one 
Mediator  as  to  the  belief  of  one  G-od.  If  it  is 
an  offence  to  the  heavenly  Majesty  to  believe 
in  many  gods,  it  cannot  be  pleasing  to  the 
Most  High  that  we  should  hold  the  doctrine  of 
many'  mediators.  "We  do  shockingly  insult  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ  and  his  Father  when  we 
bring  in  a  great  rabble  of  mediators  and  inter- 
cessors. Christ  only,  and  Christ  alone,  is 
worthy  of  the  Daysman's  crown.  To  men- 
tion another js  theft  and  robbery.    John  10:1. 


CHKIST  THE  MEDIATOR  117 

Y.  We  should  greatly  rejoice  in  Christ, 
the  one  Mediator.  He  is  our  life  and  our 
light.  Let  us  make  him  our  joy  and  our  song. 
We  cannot  praise  him  -too  much.  We  shall 
never  laud  him  enough.  He  is  the  admira- 
tion of  all  heaven.  He  ought  to  be  the  de- 
lights of  the  sons  of  men. 

"Were  the  whole  realm  of  nature  mine, 
That  were  a  present  far  too  small ; 
Love  so  amazing,  so  divine, 
Demands  my  soul,  my  life,  my  alL" 

VI.  As  Mediator,  Christ  holds  and  exe- 
cutes the  offices  of  Prophet,  Priest,  and  King. 
This  method  of  stating  his  work  is  not  a  hu- 
man invention.  It  is  clearly  and  often  taught 
in  the  Scriptures.  It  is  based  in  the  nature  of 
things.  It  is  really  a  useful  mode  of  present- 
ing truth.  Christ  does  the  full  work  of  a 
Mediator. 

Controversies  between  two  parties  are  of 
three  kinds  : 

1.  Such  as  are  founded  in  mere  mistake, 
both  parties  being  innocent  and  honest,  nei- 
tln T  intending  any  harm.  In  this  case,  all 
that  is  wanted  is  light,  explanation.  ButGlod 
is  not  mistaken  respecting  us.  He  under- 
stands our  case  perfectly.     He  is  not  misin- 


118      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

formed.  He  is  under  no  misapprehensions 
respecting  us.  He  has  no  prejudices  against 
us.  And  although  we  are  willingly  mistaken 
respecting  Grod  in  many  particulars,  and  have 
wicked  prejudices  against  him,  it  is  because 
we  hate  the  light ;  for  when  we  know  him,  we 
glorify  him  not,  nor  like  to  retain  him  in  our 
knowledge  ;  our  carnal  mind  is  enmity  against 
him.  The  controversy  between  God  and  us 
cannot  be  settled  by  mere  explanation.  Jeho- 
vah's conduct  needs  none  ;  ours  admits  of 
none. 

2.  In  the  second  kind  of  controversy,  both 
parties  are  to  be  blamed — both  have  done 
wrong.  In  human  strifes  this  is  often  the 
case.  One  wrong  leads  to  another.  Before 
adjustment,  ofttimes,  both  parties  are  censura- 
ble. But  Grod  has  done  us  good,  and  not  evil, 
all  our  days.  He  has  never  wronged  us.  Even 
when  he  has  afflicted  us,  he  has  punished  us 
less  than  our  iniquities  deserved.  He  has 
brought  no  false  accusation  against  us.  He 
has  mercifully  spared  us,  when  he  might  justly 
have  cut  us  down.  He  has  done  all  things 
well.  We  have  destroyed  ourselves.  He  is 
holy,  just,  and  good.  In  this  fearful  contro- 
versy we  cannot  blame  him. 


CHRIST  THE  MEDIATOR.  119 

3.  The  only  other  kind  of  controversy  be- 
tween two  parties  is,  where  all  the  blame  is 
on  one  side.  This  is  the  character  of  our  con- 
troversy with  God.  We  have  sinned  against 
him,  not  he  against  us.  We  are  all  wrong  ; 
we  are  wTholly  wrong ,  we  are  terribly  wrong. 
Our  iniquities  have  separated  between  us  and 
God.  He  is  righteous;  we  are  unjust.  He 
is  holy ;  we  are  vile.  He  can  do  without  us  ; 
without  him  we  are  undone.  Let  us  say  all 
this,  and  confess  the  whole  truth.  Let  us 
joyfully  accept  the  mediation  of  Jesus  Christ. 
This  way  of  reconciliation  is  as  safe  for  us  as 
it  is  honorable  to  God.  This  is  the  only 
method  of  ending  the  fearful  contest.  Reject 
this,  and  nothing  remains  but  an  eternal  over- 
throw. 

And  the  sooner  we  make  peace  with  God 
the  better.  There  is  no  time  to  be  lost.  Now 
is  i he  day  of  salvation.  Awake,  0  sleeper, 
ami  call  upon  thy  God. 

The  responsibility  of  living  under  the  gos- 
pel  is  great  in  proportion  to  its  incalculable 
advantages.     Heb.  2:1-4;  10:28-30. 


120      THE  KOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 
CHAPTEE  VII. 

CHRIST  A  PROPHET. 

The  prophetical  office  of  Christ  claims 
solemn  attention.  The  life  of  men's  souls  is 
involved  in  it.  The  necessity  of  some  great 
teacher  to  enlighten  mankind  was  confessed 
by  the  heathen  as  well  as  by  the  Jews.  Soc- 
rates said:  "Yon  may  resign  all  hope  of 
reforming  the  manners  of  men,  unless  it  please 
God  to  send  some  person  to  instruct  you.'7 
Plato  said:  "  Whatever  is  set  right  in  the 
present  ill  state  of  the  world  can  be  done  only 
by  the  interposition  of  G-od."  Cicero,  speak- 
ing of  the  philosophers,  said  :  "  Do  you  think 
that  those  precepts  of  morality  had  any  influ- 
ence, except  in  a  very  few  instances,  upon  the 
men  who  speculated,  wrote,  and  disputed  con- 
cerning them?  No;  who  is  there  of  all  the 
philosophers  whose  mind  and  manners  were 
conformed  to  the  dictates  of  right  reason? 
Who  of  them  ever  made  his  philosophy  the 
law  and  rule  of  his  life,  and  not  merely  an 
occasion  of  displaying  his  own  ingenuity?  On 
the  contrary,  many  of  them  have  been  slaves 


CHEIST  A   PKOPHET.  121 

to  the  vilest  lusts."  How  the  pious  Jews 
longed,  and  waited,  and  prayed  for  the  com- 
ing of  a  great  prophet  is  declared  in  many 
Scriptures. 

Let  us  consider  this  subject : 

I.  Among  the  ancients  and  moderns,  civ- 
ilized and  rude,  the  office  of  prophet  has  been 
held  in  high  esteem.  In  this  agree  Jews, 
Christians,  Mohammedans,  and  pagans.  The 
evangelical  prophet  expressed  the  popular 
sentiment  of  his  countrymen  and  the  common 
sense  of  mankind  when,  in  the  same  list,  he 
enrolled  the  prophet  with  the  mighty  man, 
and  the  man  of  war,  and  the  judge,  and  the 
prudent,  and  the  ancient,  and  the  captain,  and 
the  honorable  man,  and  the  counsellor,  and 
the  eloquent  orator.  Isa.  3:2,  3.  Such  men 
arc  the  stay  and  the  staff  of  a  people.  Among 
them  all,  none  were  more  important,  or  were 
charged  with  more  weighty  duties,  than  the 
prophets. 

II.  But  what  is  the  office  of  a  prophet? 
The  word  prophet  comes  to  us  from  the  Greek, 
where  its  literal  signification  is  a  foreteller. 
The  Hebrews  hid  two  words  for  a  prophet, 
One  was  from  their  word  to  see.  It  was  in 
use  a  long  time  in  the  early  history  of  that 


122      THE  KOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

people.  So  we  read  in  1  Samuel  9:9:  "  Be- 
foretime  in  Israel,  when  a  man  went  to  inquire 
of  God,  thus  he  spake,  Come,  and  let  us  go  to 
the  seer  j  for  he  that  is  now  called  a  Prophet 
was  beforetime  called  a  Seer."  The  other 
word  for  a  prophet  signifies  primarily  to  boil 
up  or  pour  forth,  as  a  fountain ;  then  to  pour 
forth  words  like  those  who  speak  with  fervor 
of  mind,  or  under  divine  inspiration.  Then 
it  came  to  signify  a  prophet,  one  who  spake  in 
the  name  of  God,  or  in  the  place  of  God. 
Proof  is  not  wanting  in  the  Scriptures  them- 
selves that  the  word  designates  one  who  speaks 
eloquently  or  beautifully.  God  said  to  Moses, 
"Aaron  thy  brother  shall  be  thy  prophet." 
This  is  God's  answer  to  Moses,  who  had  ob- 
jected to  his  mission  on  the  ground  that  he 
was  "of  uncircumcised  lips."  The  Greek 
word  prophet  is  by  Paul  himself  applied  to  a 
heathen  poet,  Titus  1:12,  either  because  the 
poet  had  written  eloquently,  or  because  he 
was  held  in  high  esteem  as  a  teacher.  In  the 
New  Testament  the  word  prophesy  has  at  least 
in  one  case  the  sense  of  edifying  the  church 
by  preaching.  ' '  The  gift  of  prophecy  included 
that  of  prophetic  foresight,  but  it  included 
more.     The  prophet  was  inspired  to  reveal 


CHKIST  A  PROPHET.  -  123 

the  will  of  God,  to  act  as  an  organ  of  commu- 
nication between  God  and  man.  The  subject 
of  the  revelations  thus  conveyed  was  not,  and 
could  not  be,  restricted  to  the  future.  It  em- 
braced the  past  and  present,  and  extended  to 
those  absolute  and  universal  truths  which  have 
no  relation  to  time."  A  prophet  then  is  an 
inspired,  and  so  an  infallible  teacher,  able  to 
tell  the  past  or  the  future,  authorized  to  speak 
lor  God  and  by  his  authority,  not  merely  as 
an  expounder  of  truths  already  revealed,  but 
to  teach  truths  before  unknown  or  forgotten 
by  mankind.'  In  this  full  and  broad  sense 
Jesus  Christ  was.  a  prophet. 

III.  The  fundamental  passage  on  which 
we  found  the  doctrine  of  Christ's  prophetical 
office  is  Deuteronomy  18 :  15-19  :  "  The  Lord 
thy  God  will  raise  up  unto  thee  a  Prophet 
from  the  midst  of  thee,  of  thy  brethren,  like 
unto  me,  unto  him  ye  shall  hearken.  Accord- 
ing to  all  that  thou  desiredst  of  the  Lord  thy 
God  in  Horeb  in  the  day  of  the  assembly,  say- 
ing. Let  me  not  hear  again  the  voice  of  the 
Lord  my  God,  neither  let  me  see  this  great 
fire  any  more,  that  I  die  not.  And  the  Lord 
said  unto  me,  They  have  well  spoken  that 
which  they  have  spoken.     T  will  raise  them 


124      THE  ROCK  OF  OUE  SALVATION. 

up  a  Prophet  from  among  their  brethren,  like 
unto  thee,  and  will  put  my  words  in  his  mouth  : 
and  he  shall  speak  unto  them  all  that  I  shall 
command  him.  And  it  shall  come  to  pass  that 
whosoever  will  not  hearken  unto  my  words, 
which  he  shall  speak  in  my  name,  I  will 
require  it  of  him."  This  prophecy  is  quoted 
by  Peter  in  his  address  to  the  people  in  Jeru- 
salem after  the  cure  of  the  lame  man,  Acts 
3:22,  23.  It  is  also  cited  by  Stephen,  in  his 
pungent  address  to  the  Jews  who  were  about 
to  stone  him  to  death,  Acts  7:37.  In  this 
prediction  several  things  claim  attention. 

1.  It  is  a  promise  made  to  the  people  on 
the  occasion  of  their  asking  that  God  would 
not  again  speak  to  them  in  so  awful  a  manner 
as  he  had  done.  God  was  not  angry  at  them 
for  this  request,  but  approved  of  their  words. 
The  prediction  is  full  of  kindness.  It  is  a  gra- 
cious engagement  to  give  them  a  teacher  whose 
presence  should  not  be  terrible  to  them. 

2.  We  have  the  best  evidence  that  this 
prediction  is  not  fulfilled,  unless  Jesus  of  Naz- 
areth was  the  promised  teacher.  The  last 
chapter  of  Deuteronomy  was  evidently  not 
written  by  Moses,  for  it  tells  of  things  done 
after  his  death.     It  was  probably  written  by 


CHRIST  A  PROPHET.  125 

different  hands.  Some,  perhaps  not  without 
reason,  ascribe  it  to  Ezra,  who  compiled  the 
canon  of  the  Old  Testament  more  than  nine 
hundred  years  after  the  death  of  Moses.  Its 
precise  date  we  are,  not  able  to  give ;  but  it 
declares  that  up  to  that  time  there  had  not 
arisen  in  Israel  a  prophet  like  unto  Moses, 
Deuteronomy  34:10.  Nay  more,  no  prophet 
like  Moses  had,  in  the  belief  of  the  Jews, 
arisen  till  the  time  of  John  the  Baptist;  for 
they  asked  him,  "Art  thou  that  prophet? 
And  he  answered,  No."  John  1:21,  25.  So 
when  they  saw  the  miracles  Jesus  did,  they 
said,  "This  is  of  a  truth  that  Prophet  that 
should  come  into  the  world."  John  6:14. 
Again  :  "Many  of  the  people  .  .  .  said,  Of  a 
truth  this  is  the  prophet."  Jews  do  not  pre- 
tend  any  more  than  Christians  that  "that 
prophet "  has  arisen  since  the  coming  of  Jesus 
of  Nazareth.  He  has  not  as  yet  come  at  all, 
unless  Jesus  be  he. 

3.  The  great  prophet  that  was  to  come 
was  to  be  raised  up  from  the  midst  of  Israel, 
and  to  be  one  of  their  brethren.  Jesus  Christ 
\\;is,  as  descended  from  his  mother,  a  Jew. 
No  one  denies  this. 

4.  The  promised  prophet  was  to  be  like 


126      THE  KOCK  OF  OUE  SALVATION. 

unto  Moses.  In  the  following  particulars  Mo- 
ses was  a  striking  type  of  Christ : 

Moses  was  hardly  born  when  his  life  was 
sought  by  bloody  men.  No  sooner  was  the 
birth  of  Jesus  known,  than  Herod  sought  the 
young  child  to  destroy  him. 

Moses  brought  God's  people  out  of  the 
house  of  bondage.  Jesus  Christ  delivers 
God's  people  from  a  worse  than  Egyptian 
bondage. 

Moses  was  faithful  in  all  his  house.  So 
Jesus  was  faithful  to  Him  that  appointed  him. 
Heb.  3:2.  Each  of  them  spake  the  will  of 
God  in  honesty  and  sincerity. 

Moses  was  a  mediator  between  God  and 
his  ancient  people.  He  is  expressly  so  called 
in  Galatians  3:10:  "  The  law  was  ordained  by 
angels  in  the  hands  of  a  mediator."  Moses 
received  the  mind  of  God  and  bore  it  to  the 
people ;  and  he  heard  the  wishes  of  the  peo- 
ple, and  bore  them  to  God.  Nor  did  any  one 
but  Moses  perform  this  office  to  the  Jews.  So 
now  Christ  is  our  one  and  sole  Mediator. 
"For  there  is  one  God,  and  one  Mediator  be- 
tween God  and  men,  the  man  Christ  Jesus." 
1  Tim.  2:5. 

Moses  was  very  intimate  with  God:  "The 


CHEIST  A  PROPHET.  127 

Lord  spake  unto  Moses  face  to  face,  as  a  man 
speaketh  to  bis  friend."  Ex.  33:11.  '"The 
Lord  knew  Moses  face  to  face."  So  Christ 
was  in  the  beginning  with  God.  "No  man 
hath  seen  God  at  any  time ;  the  only  begot- 
ten Son,  which  is  in  the  bosom  of  the  Father, 
he  hath  declared  him."     John  1 :18. 

Beyond  all  others  before  Christ,  Moses 
attested  his  doctrine  and  commission  by^  signs 
and  wonders,  both  in  the  land  of  Egypt  and 
in  the  sight  of  all  Israel.  Deut.  34:11,  12. 
So  Jesus  Christ  has  filled  the  world  with  the 
renown  of  his  stupendous  miracles.  Even 
when  he  was  on  earth,  many  who  were  not 
his  disciples  said,  "  When  Christ  cometh,  will 
he  do  more  miracles  than  these  which  this  man 
hath  done?"  John  7:31.  Jesus  called  on 
his  enemies  to  "believe  the  works"  which  lie 
wrought  John  10  :  38.  Indeed,  our  Saviour's 
miracles  were  not  only  amazing  in  kind;  they 
were  countless  in  number.  Having  told  us 
much  of  Christ,  John  says:  " There  are  also 
many  other  tilings  which  Jesus  did,  the  which, 
if  they  should  be  written  everyone,  I  suppose 
that  even  the  world  itself  could  not  contain 
the  books  that  should  be  written."  21:25. 
So  Cleopaa  said  that  "Jesus  of  Nazareth  was 


128      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

*  a  prophet  mighty  in  deed  and  word  before 

God  and  all  the  people."     Luke  24  :  19. 

Moses  introduced  a  new  state  of  things, 
setting  aside  the  patriarchal  dispensation.  So 
Jesus  Christ  introduced  a  new  dispensation  in 
the  place  of  the  Mosaic.  Now  we  have  the 
gospel  instead  of  the  Sinaic  covenant. 

In  all  these  respects  Moses  was  a  striking 
type  of  Christ.  Yet,  as  was  fitting,  the  Anti- 
type far  excelled  him.  Moses  was  a  servant. 
Christ  was  a  Son.  Moses  was  a  mere  man. 
Christ  was  "  God  manifest  in  the  flesh." 
Moses  was  a  sinner.  Christ  never  displeased 
his  Father.  The  Mosaic  dispensation  passed 
away.  Christ  shall  never  be  superseded  ; 
while  eternity  lasts,  the  Lamb  himself  shall 
feed  his  people,  and  lead  them  to  fountains  of 
living  waters.    Eev.  7:17. 

So  convincing  was  the  evidence  which 
Christ  gave  of  his  divine  mission,  that  the 
woman  of  Samaria  said,  "I  perceive  that  thou 
art  a  prophet."  John  4:19.  And  the  blind  man 
who  was  healed  by  him,  in  the  midst  of  taunts 
and  threats  said,  "He  is  a  prophet."  John 
9:17.  So  when  he  raised  the  young  man  of 
Nain,  "there  came  a  fear  on  all:  and  they 
glorified  God,  saying  that  a  great  prophet  is 


CHRIST  A  PROPHET.  129 

risen  up  among  us."  Luke  7  :16.  And  at  one 
time  multitudes  of  the  Jewish  nation, gathered 
at  the  holy  city,  were  so  affected  that  they 
said,  "This  is  Jesus  the  prophet  of  Nazareth 
of  Galilee."  Matt.  21 :11.  Indeed,  during  his 
ministry  his  miracles  were  confessed.  Nor 
did  any  one  ever  successfully  impugn  his 
teachings,  or  assail  his  claims  to  be  the  prophet 
of  God. 

The  objections  made  were  frivolous,  such 
as  tfiese  :  "  Search  and  look  :  for  out  of  Gali- 
lee ariseth  no  prophet."  John  7 :  52.  To  this 
bold  statement  there  are  several  fair  answers. 
1.  Neither  Moses  nor  any  other  writer  of  the 
Jewish  Scriptures  had  said  where  all  the 
prophets  should  be  born.  2.  At  this  very 
time  the  Jews  had  among  their  canonical 
books  the  writings  of  two  prophets,  Jonah 
and  Xalium,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of 
Galilee.  3.  Jesus  did  not  arise  out  of  Gali- 
1< •«■.  for  he  was  born  in  Bethlehem  of  Judea. 
1.  Lsaiahhad  expressly  foretold,  not  that  Mes- 
siah should  be  born  in  Galilee,  but  that  his 
ministry  should  greatly  enlighten  that  dark 
region,  sometimes  called  Galilee  of  the  Gen- 
tiles, betaise  it  bordered  on  Syria  and  Ara- 
bia, and  because  there  many  Gentiles  dwelt 
G* 


130      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

with  the  Israelites.  Compare  Isa.  9  :1,  2,  and 
Matt.  4  :  14-16.  5.  The  cities  of  refuge, "it  is 
commonly  admitted,  were  types  of  Christ,  and 
one  of  these,  Kedesh  (or  Kadesh)  of  Naphtali, 
was  in  Galilee ;  for  Galilee  included  Asher, 
Issachar,  Zebulon,  and  Naphtali. 

Another  objection  has  no  more  force. 
When  Simon  the  Pharisee  saw  how  Christ 
permitted  the  poor  sinful  woman  to  wash  his 
feet  with  her  tears,  and  to  anoint  him,  he  said, 
"This  man,  if  he  were  a  prophet,  would  liave 
known  who  and  what  manner  of  woman  this 
is  that  toucheth  him  :  for  she  is  a  sinner." 
Luke  7  :  39.  But  Jesus  did  know  not  only  the 
woman's  sinfulness,  but  also  her  penitence, 
and  amply  vindicated  his  conduct.  Simon  did 
not  know  that  Jesus '  came  into  the  world  to 
save  sinners.   The  mistake  was  all  on  his  side. 

IV.  It  remains  to  show  how  Jesus  Christ 
fulfils  ' '  the  office  of  a  prophet,  in  revealing 
to  the  church  in  all  ages,  by  his  Spirit  and 
word,  in  divers  ways  of  administration,  the 
whole  will  of  God,  in  all  things  concerning  the 
edification  and  salvation  of  believers." 

1.  For  about  four  thousand  years  Jesus 
Christ  made  known  the  will  of  God  by  his 
servants,   the  prophets.     "At  sundry  times 


CHKIST  A  PROPHET.  131 

and  in  divers  manners"  lie  " spake  in  time  past 
unto  the  fathers  by  the  prophets."  Heb.  1:1. 
So  Peter  also  says,  Of  this  "salvation  the 
prophets  have  inquired  and  searched  dili- 
gently, who  prophesied  of  the  grace  that 
should  come  unto  you,  searching  what  or  what 
manner  of  time  the  Spirit  of  Christ  which  was 
in  them  did  signify,  when  it  testified  before- 
hand the  sufferings  of  Christ,  and  the  glory 
that  should  follow.  Unto  whom  it  was  revealed 
that  not  unto  themselves,  but\mto  us  they  did 
minister  the  things  which  are  now  reported 
unto  you  by  them  that  have  preached  the  gos- 
pel unto  you,  with  the  Holy  Ghost  sent  down 
from  heaven."  These  Scriptures  bring  out 
these  truths  :  1.  All  the  will  of  God  was  not 
revealed  at  once,  but  at  divers  times  from 
Adam  to  Malachi.  2.  God's  will  was  revealed 
in  various  ways;  sometimes  in  dreams,  some- 
times in  visions,  sometimes  by  sending  an  an- 
gel, sometimes  by  an  audible  voice,  and  some- 
times by  the  Son  of  God  assuming  a  human 
form.  8.  But  whatever  the  manner  of  the  rev- 
elation, ii  was  always  by  "the  Spirit  of  Christ 
which  was  in  the  prophets."  4.  Much  that 
the  prophets  spoke  was  dark  to  themseb 
so  that  they  found  it  necessary  to  study  very 


132      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

carefully  their  own  writings.  5.  The  burden 
of  their  messages  was  the  sufferings  of  Christ 
and  the  glory  that  should  follow.  6.  Their 
teachings  were  in  their  aspect  chiefly  pro- 
spective, relating  to  gospel  times.  7.  Tlie 
same  Holy  Spirit,  who  dictated  the  prophe- 
cies, gives  efficacy  to  the  preached  gospel. 
8..  Much  that  was  said  by  the  prophets, 
amounting  in  all  to  thirty-nine  books,  was 
put  in  writing,  and  committed  to  the  ancient 
church,  as  the  depository  of  the  truth. 

2.  The  prophets  were  followed  by  John 
the  Baptist,  who,  for  the  clear  light  he  gave 
and  for  pointing  out  the  very  man  who  was  to 
save  the  world,  was  "more  than  a  prophet." 
Matt.  11:9.  He  was  in  a  sense  an  evange- 
list.    He  was  Christ's  herald  and  forerunner. 

3.  Then  came  Jesus  Christ  himself,  the 
Light  of  the  world,  the  life  of  men,  and  the 
desire  of  all  nations.  God  flhath  in  these  lat- 
ter days  spoken  unto  us  by  his  Son."  Heb. 
1:2.  Men  saw  him  full  of  grace  and  truth. 
Men  wondered  at  the  gracious  words  that 
proceeded  out  of  his  mouth.  And  no  marvel ; 
"  for  it  pleased  the  Father  that  in  him  should 
all  fulness  dwell."  Col.  1:19.  During  his 
personal  ministry  Christ  taught  us  the  will  of 


CHKIST  A  PEOPHET.  133 

God  in  four  ways.  1.  He  wrought  miracles  in 
his  own  name  and  by  his  own  power,  thus 
showing  not  only  that  he  was  a  teacher  sent 
from  God,  but  that  he  was  himself  divine. 
2.  In  his  entire  human  nature  he  set  us  an 
example  of  piety  and  benevolence,  making 
plain  to  us  all  our  duties.  Whatever  Christ 
did  as  a  man,  we  are  bound  to  do.  In  obedi- 
ence to  parents,  in  submission  to  civil  rulers, 
in  forgiveness  of  injuries,  in  all  things  his  ex- 
ample was  perfect.  3.  During  his  personal 
ministry  Christ  uttered  several  remarkable 
predictions,  which  have  been  and  shall  be  of 
eminent  service  to  the  church  of  God.  Christ's 
predictions  were  strongly  marked.  4.  Jesus 
Christ  preached  much  and  in  a  manner  wholly 
incomparable.  When  the  minions  of  cruelty 
were  sent  to  arrest  him,  they  were  disarmed 
by  hifl  amazing  discourses.  When  asked  why 
they  did  not  bring  him  before  the  chief  priests 
and  Pharisees,  the  only  account  they  could 
giye  of  the  matter  was,  "Never  man  spake 
Like  this  man."  John7:4G.  The  guilty  hands 
lifted  against  him  fell  nerveless  before  his 
amazing  words.  No  wonder  the  people  were 
gto&ished  at  his  doctrine;  for  he  taught 
them  as  one  having  authority,  and  not  as  the 


134      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

scribes."  Matt.  7  :  28,  29.  The  word  of  God 
in  his  mouth  was  a  sharp  two-edged  sword. 
Deut.  18:18  and  Rev.  1:16. 

4.  When  Christ  left  this  world  and  ascended 
up  far  above  all  heavens,  "he  gave  some  apos- 
tles ;  and  some  prophets  ;  and  some  evange- 
lists ;  and  some  pastors  and  teachers  ;  for  the 
perfecting  of  the  saints,  for  the  work  of  the 
ministry,  for  the  edifying  of  the  body  of 
Christ."  Eph.  4  :  11-13.  This  whole  work 
of  the  apostles  and  their  co-laborers  was 
conducted  under  the  guidance  and  teaching 
of  the  Holy  Grhost,  who  both  taught  them 
and  brought  to  their  remembrance  all  things 
taught  them  by  the  Master  personally.  John 
14:26.  It  was  given  them  what  they  should 
say.  The  same  Spirit  in  his  converting  power 
was  poured  upon  their  hearers. 

5.  Jesus  Christ  inspired  his  apostles  and 
evangelists  to  write  for  our  use  twenty-seven 
distinct  books,  giving  a  full  account  of  his  life 
and  doctrine,  and  of  his  will  in  all  things  per- 
taining to  life  and  godliness,  to  the  end  of  the 
world. 

6.  It  is  still  Christ's  gracious  plan  to  pour 
out  his  Spirit  on  faithful  ministers  in  preach- 
ing his  word,  and  on  tKe  hearers  of  his  word, 


CHRIST  A  PROPHET.  135 

so  that  great  numbers  are  still  converted,  sanc- 
tified, and  built  up  in  faith  and  holiness  unto 
eternal  life.  In  these  several  methods  Jesus 
Christ  carries  on  his  great  work  as  the  prophet 
of  God. 

Let  us  consider  a  little  the  excellence  of 
his  work  as  a  teacher. 

1.  Every  thing  he  has  taught  us  either  by 
himself  or  by  his  servants  is  true.  In  it  all 
there  is  no  mistake,  no  error,  no  delusion. 
The  more  it  is  tried,  the  more  true  it  is  pro- 
ven to  be.  In  a  world  full  of  falsehood  and 
delusion,  pure  truth  is  a  great  matter.  Now 
whether  men  jest  or  are  serious  in  asking, 
AVliat  is  truth  ?  we  can  look  up  to  God  and 
say,  "Thy  word  is  truth. "  "  It  is  truth  with- 
out any  admixture  of  error."  It  is  the  truth 
of  God.  And  it  all  comes  to  us  through  the 
Spirit  of  Christ.  Indeed,  he  is  the  Rock,  out 
of  which  the  river  of  truth  has  ever  flowed  to 
make  glad  the  city  of  God. 

2.  All  he  has  taught  us  is  very  pure.  It 
cannot  defile.  "The  words  of  the  Lord  are 
pore  words:   as  silver  tried  in  a  furnace  of 

li.  purified  seven  times."    "The  command- 

incut  of  the  Lord   is   pure,  enlightening  the 

is."     "The   law  is  holy,  just,  and  good." 


136      THE  KOCK  OF  OUK  SALVATION. 

The  reason  why  the  wicked  hate  God's  word 
is  that  it  is  so  holy. 

3.  Jesus  Christ  has,  in  ways  already  sta- 
ted, revealed  to  us  the  whole  will  of  God  for 
our  salvation.  He  has  kept  back  nothing  that 
would  be  profitable  to  us.  He  says  expressly : 
u  All  things  that  I  have  heard  of  my  Father, 
I  have  made  known  unto  you."  John  15  :  15  ; 
Ps.  40:9,  10;  Deut.  18:18. 

4.  The  whole  will  of  God  thus  made  known 
to  us  through  our  great  Prophet  is  accompa- 
nied by  the  strongest  attestations.  It  is  con- 
firmed by  witnesses  who  jeoparded  their  lives, 
and  in  most  cases  actually  died  martyrs.  God 
has  also  borne  witness,  both  with  signs  and 
wonders,  and  with  divers  miracles,  and  gifts 
of  the  Holy  Ghost.  It  is  confirmed  by  the 
spotless  life  of  Christ  himself,  and  by  the  holy 
lives  of  his  prophets  and  apostles.  It  is  con- 
firmed to  us  by  its  converting  and  sanctifying 
power  over  men's  souls.  It  is  confirmed  by 
the  commanding  authority  it  has  over  the 
human  conscience.  It  is  confirmed  to  us  by 
covenant  and  by  God's  awful  and  unimpeach- 
able oath. 

5.  The  will  of  God,  as  revealed  to  us  by 
our  great  prophet,  is  practicable.     The  doc- 


CHRIST  A  PEOPHET.  137 

trines  can  be  loved  and  are  loved  by  all  whose 
hearts  are  right.  All  the  precepts  are  just. 
They  are  obeyed  sincerely  by  the  godly. 
They  were  obeyed  perfectly  in  our  Lord's 
human  nature,  thus  showing  that  they  could 
be  kept  whenever  sin  did  not  oppose. 

6.  Our  great  prophet  has  made  the  will  of 
God  very  plain.  "  The  common  people  heard 
him  gladly/'     He  never  mystified  his  hear- 

"That  which  maketh  manifest  is  light.'7 
God's  word  is  even  a  discerner  of  the  thoughts 
and  intents  of  the  heart.  It  exposes  to  our 
view  the  secrets  of  our  souls  and  the  glorious 
mysteries  of  heavenly  things.  Neither  Christ 
nor  his  servants  handled  the  word  of  God 
deceitfully.  If  to  any  the  Bible  is  a  sealed 
book,  it  is  because  of  the  blindness  of  their 
heart  "  All  the  words  of  my  mouth  are  in 
righteousness  ;  there  is  nothing  frowarcl  or 
] icr verse  in  them.  They  are  all  plain  to  him 
that  tmderstandeth,  and  right  to  them  that 
find  knowledge."     Prov.  8  :  8,  9. 

7.  God's  will  is  made  known  to  us  in  the 
kindest,  gentlest  way.  Our  great  prophet  did 
n<»t  BtrivOj  nor  cry,  nor  cause  his  voice  to  be 
heard  in  the  streets.    lie  held  up  a  little  child 

he  pattern  he  would  have  us  follow.    Even 


138      THE  KOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

Moses,  his  servant,  who  was  the  minister  of  the 
Sinaic  covenant,  was  the  meekest  of  mere  men. 

8.  Jesus  Christ  teaches  all  his  people  effec- 
tually. "I  will  put  my  law  in  their  inward 
parts,  and  write  it  in  their  hearts ;  and  I  will 
be  their  God  and  they  shall  be  my  people." 
Jer.  31  :  33.  So  that  David  said  no  more 
than  every  child  of  God  may  say:  "I  will 
never  forget  thy  precepts ;  for  with  them  thou 
hast  quickened  me.'7     Ps.  119:93. 

1.  Let  us  not  waste  our  life  and  time  in 
gaping  after  some  strange  thing,  some  new 
doctrine,  or  some  new  revelation.  Let  us 
seek  the  old  paths,  the  ways  in  which  the 
prophets,  and  apostles,  and  martyrs,  and  con- 
fessors, and  righteous  men  walked.  There 
never  was  but  one  way  of  salvation  for  sinners. 
There  is  but  one  way  now.  It  is  taught  us 
by  Jesus  Christ.  Let  us  not,  like  the  foolish, 
say,  "  Who  shall  ascend  into  heaven  ?  (that  is, 
to  bring  Christ  down  from  above  ;)  or,  Who 
shall  descend  into  the  deep  ?  (that  is,  to  bring 
up  Christ  again  from  the  dead.)  But  what 
saith  it  ?  The  word  is  nigh  thee,  even  in  thy 
mouth,  and  in  thy  heart ;  that  is,  the  word  of 
faith,  which  we  preach  :  that  if  thou  shalt  con- 
fess with  thy  mouth  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  shalt 


CHEIST  A  PKOPHET.  139 

believe  in  thy  heart  that  God  hath  raised  him 
from  the  dead,  thou  shalt  be  saved.  For  with 
the  heart,  man  believeth  unto  righteousness  ; 
and  with  the  mouth,  confession  is  made  unto 
salvation."     Rom.  10 : 6-10. 

2.  The  teachings  of  Christ  as  our  great 
Prophet  are  not  submitted  to  us  for  criticism, 
for  speculation,  for  our  entertainment ;  0  no. 
"  These  things  have  I  written  unto  you  that 
believe  on  the  name  of  the  Son  of  God,  that  ye 
may  know  that  ye  have  eternal  life."  1  John 
5 :13.  "Whatsoever  things  were  written  afore- 
time were  written  for  our  learning,  that  we 
through  patience  and  comfort  of  the  Scrip- 
tures might  have  hope."  .Rom.  15  :  4.  Hear 
the  word  of  this  salvation  not  as  critics,  but  as 
criminals;  not  as  theorists,  but  as  candidates 
lor  eternity  ;  not  as  idle  spectators  of  a  drama, 
but  as  those  who  must  give  account  to  God. 

3.  IJow  very  reasonable  it  is  that  such 
poor,  ignorant,  blind  creatures  as  we  are  should 
pray  lor  light  and  wisdom,  and  especially  for 
the  teaching  of  the  Spirit  of  Christ.  Of  him 
it  was  promised  by  Christ,  "He  shall  receive 
of  mine,  and  shall  show  it  unto  you."  John 
l(j  :  14.  Other  tilings  being  equal,  he  who 
prays  most  will  learn  fastest.     When  Daniel 


140      THE  KOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

was  to  expound  Nebuchadnezzar's  dream,  he 
and  his  friends  found  out  the  secret  by  prayer. 
Dan.  2:18.  Luther  said :  "  Three  things  make 
a  good  theologian — meditation,  temptation, 
and  prayer."  David  was  a  prophet,  yet  often 
he  cried,  "Teach  me  thy  statutes;"  "Open 
thou  mine  eyes,  that  I  may  behold  wondrous 
things  out  of  thy  law." 

4.  Whatever  we  do  or  leave  undone,  let 
us  not  fail  to  hear  and  obey  this  great  Prophet. 
God  says  we  must :  "Unto  him  shall  ye  heark- 
en ;"  "  Whosoever  will  not  hearken  unto  my 
words  which  he  shall  speak  in  my  name,  I 
will  require  it  of  him."  This  is  the  law  under 
which  the  gospel  is  promulged.  Let  none 
think  to  screen  himself  from  this  awful  respon- 
sibility by  the  fact  that  Christ  is  no  longer  on 
earth.  He  is  here  by  his  essential  presence, 
and  he  is  here  by  his  faithful  ambassadors. 
Before  he  left  the  world,  he  said  to  his  minis- 
ters :  "  He  that  heareth  you  heareth  me  ;  and 
he  that  despiseth  you  despiseth  me  ;  and  he 
that  despiseth  me  despiseth  him  that  sent 
me."  Luke  10:16.  The  law  of  nations  is, 
He  that  despises  an  ambassador  insults  the 
government  that  sent  hiin.  Such  also  is  the 
law  of  the  God  of  heaven. 


THE  PRIESTHOOD  OF  OHEIST.       14] 
CHAPTER  VIII. 

THE  PRIESTHOOD  OF   CHRIST. 

In  Scripture  much  is  said  of  the  offices  of 
Christ,  In  particular,  his  priesthood  is  dis- 
tinctly stated.  One  of  the  epistles,  that  to 
the  Hebrews,  is  an  inspired  treatise  on  this 
subject.  It  is  clear  and  simple.  It  discusses 
the  chief  points  in  a  natural  order,  and  con- 
cludes with  practical  inferences  fairly  drawn. 
Christ's  priesthood  is  our  theme  at  present. 
We  can  find  no  better  order  in  which  to  pre- 
sent the  matter  than  that  suggested  by  Paul. 

1.  The  first  thing  asserted  and  proved  by 
the  apostle  is,  that  our  High  Priest,  Jesus 
Christ,  is  divine.  All  his  offices  required  that 
he  should  be  God.  None  but  God  could  be 
such  a  King  as  Christ  is.  None  but  God 
knows  the  things  of  God,  or  could  infallibly 
declare  them  to  us  as  the  Prophet  of  the 
church.  None  but  God  could  satisfy  justice, 
and  bring  in  everlasting  righteousness  suffi- 
cient for  lost  men.  On  Christ's  divinity  the 
power  of  hi.-  priesthood  must  rest.  So  Paul 
thought  :  and  he  takes  up  the  whole  of  the 


142      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

first  chapter  of  Hebrews  in  proving  it.  He 
uses  four  arguments,  which  to  a  pious  mind 
are  conclusive. 

1 .  He  says  that  Christ  is  ' '  the  brightness 
of  the  Father's  glory,  and  the  express  image 
of  his  person."  Then  he  says  Christ's  holy 
Father  calls  him  "  God  :"  "  Thy  throne  0 
God,  is  for  ever  and  ever."  Heb.  1  : 3,  8. 
Then  he  shows,  from  Psalm  102  :  25,  26,  that 
he  is  called  Lord.  In  that  psalm  the  word 
Lord  occurs  eight  times.  In  every  instance 
the  original  word  is  Jehovah,  the  great  and 
incommunicable  name  of  the  self-existent  God. 

2.  Paul  argues  the  divinity  of  Christ  from 
the  fact  that  he  is  Creator.  He  says  expressly, 
"  By  him  God  made  the  worlds  ;"  and,  "Thou, 
Lord,  in  the  beginning  hast  laid  the  founda- 
tion of  the  earth,  and  the  heavens  are  the 
works  of  thy  hands."  Heb.  1  :  2,  10.  He  also 
says  :  ' '  This  man  was  counted  worthy  of  more 
glory  than  Moses,  inasmuch  as  he  who  hath 
builded  the  house  hath  more  honor  than  the 
house.  For  every  house  is  builded  by  some 
man,  but  he  that  built  all  things  is  God.'' 
Heb.  3  :  3,  4. 

3.  The  third  argument  for  Christ's  divin- 
ity here  employed  is,  that  he  is  the  author  of 


THE  PRIESTHOOD  OF  CHRIST.       143 

providence.  He  governs  and  sustains  the 
universe.  Paul  says  of  Christ,  "He  upholds 
all  tilings  by  the  word  of  his  power  f  and, 
"Thy  throne,  0  God,  is  for  ever  and  ever." 
Hob.  1:3,  8.  Again  Paul  says  :  God  "hath 
appointed  him  heir  of  all  things."  Heb.  1  :  2. 
Well  does  Whitby  say,  "I  believe  it  is  as 
impossible  to  understand  how  a  man  should 
have  this  empire  over  all  things  in  heaven 
and  earth,  and  over  death  itself,  and  yet  be  a 
mere  man,  as  it  is  to  understand  any  mystery 
of  the  sacred  Trinity." 

4.  Paul's  fourth  argument  for  the  divinity 
of  our  High  Priest  is,  that  by  command  of  his 
Father  he  is  to  be  worshipped:  "When  he 
bringeth  the  first-begotten  into  the  world,  he 
saith,  And  let  all  the  angels  of  God  worship 
him."'  Heb.  1  : 6.  Any  one  of  these  argu- 
ments, fairly  stated,  is  conclusive.  If  Christ 
is  fitly  called  God  and  Lord,  or  if  he  is  the 
Creator,  or  if  he  is  the  author  of  providence, 
or  if  he  is  rightly  worshipped,  he  is  divine. 
What  higher  or  better  evidence  have  we  that 
the  Father  is  possessed  of  supreme  divinity 
than  that  he  is  rightly  called  God  and  Jeho- 
vah, that  ho  made  all  things,  that  he  governs 
all  things,  and   that  it  is  proper   to  pay  him 


144      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

religious  worship  ?  If  we  cannot  prove  the 
Son  divine,  neither  can  we  prove  the  Father 
divine. 

II.  The  second  proposition  of  Paul  respect- 
ing our  High  Priest  is,  that  he  is  human,  has 
our  nature,  is  a  man.  We  can  conceive  how 
our  Lord  might  have  been  King  in  his  divine 
nature  alone.  He  could  have  ruled  the  world 
without  becoming  incarnate.  To  some  extent, 
perhaps  to  a  saving  extent,  he  might  have  done 
the  work  of  a  prophet,  and  taught  us  the  mind 
and  will  and  nature  of  G-od,  without  becoming 
man.  True,  we  should  have  very  much  missed 
his  perfect  example,  set  us  in  the  days  of  his 
flesh.  But  by  his  word  and  Spirit  he  might 
have  made  men  wise  unto  salvation  without 
his  example.  He  did  this  for  four  thousand 
years,  and  gathered  many  sons  to  glory.  But 
how  could  he  have  been  a  priest  without  a  na- 
ture capable  of  obeying,  of  suffering,  and  of 
dying.  Divinity  cannot  obey,  cannot  suffer, 
cannot  die.  Without  a  nature  capable  of  suf- 
fering, he  could  make  no  atonement.  Although 
Christ's  humanity  has  at  divers  times  and  un- 
der various  pretexts  been  denied,  yet  it  is 
now  seldom  impugned.  It  is  not  necessary 
therefore  to  argue  this  matter  at  length.     A 


THE  PEIESTHOOD  OF  CHEIST.       145 

few  verses  on  the  point  will  be  enough.  In 
Hebrews  2 : 7  we  have  these  words  applied  to 
him  :  "  Thou  madest  him  a  little  [or  for  a  lit- 
tle while]  lower  than  the  angels."  In  He- 
brews 2  :  9,  Paul  says  that  he  "was  made  a 
little  lower  than  the  angels  for  the  suffering  of 
death.''  In  Hebrews  2  :10  Paul  says  that  it 
was  by  suffering  that  Jesus  became  a  perfect 
Captain  of  salvation.  Then  in  Hebrews  2:14 
lie  says :  ' '  Forasmuch  as  the  children  arc  par- 
takers  of  flesh  and  blood,  he  also  himself  took 
part  of  the  same,  that  through  death  he  might 
destroy  him  that  had  the  power  of  death." 
And  in  Hebrews  2:17:  "Wherefore  in  all 
tilings  it  behooved  him  to  be  made  like  unto 
his  brethren,  that  he  might  be  a  merciful  and 
faithful  High  Priest  in  things  pertaining  to 
God,  to  make  reconciliation  for  the  sins  of  the 
people."  And  in  Hebrews  2:18:  "For  in 
that  he  himself  hath  suffered  being  tempted, 
he  is  able  to  succor  them  that  are  tempted." 

These  passages  assign  four  distinct   rea- 
wli y  our  Lord  must  be  human : 

1.  Thus  only  could  he  be  lower  than  the 
angels,  2.  That  he  might  suffer,  and  so  atone 
3.  That  by  death  he  might  destroy  him  that 
had    the    power  of  death.     And  4.  That  he 


146      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

might  by  experience  learn  what  temptation 
and  sorrow  were,  and  so  be  a  merciful  High 
Priest. 

III.  Jesus  Christ  was  duly  called  of  God 
to  be  our  High  Priest.  He  was  no  bold  intru- 
der into  those  awful  functions.  Every  step 
he  took  was  agreeable  to  the  counsels  of  God. 
This  is  to  us  a  matter  of  great  importance  ; 
and  so  we  are  not  left  in  doubt  upon  it.  In 
Hebrews  5:4,  5  we  read  :  "No  man  taketh 
this  honor  to  himself,  but  he  that  is  called  of 
God,  as  was  Aaron.  So  also  Christ  glorified 
not  himself  to  be  made  a  high  priest ;  but  he 
that  said  unto  him,  Thou  art  my  Son,  to-day 
have  I  begotten  thee."  If  it  can  be  shown 
that  any  man  was  ever  called  of  God  to  any 
office,  much  more  can  it  be  proved  that  the 
Son  was  called  of  his  Holy  Father  to  be  a 
High  Priest. 

IY.  Not  only  ancient  usage,  but  the  law 
of  Moses  required  that  the  high  priest  should 
be  anointed.  Jesus  is  the  Messiah,  the  Christ, 
the  Lord's  Anointed.  Twice  in  God's  word, 
once  in  prophecy,  and  once  in  direct  and  in- 
spired application  to  Christ,  do  we  find  these 
words:  "God,  thy  God,  hath  anointed  thee 
with  the  oil  of  gladness  above  thy  fellows." 


THE  PKIESTHOOD  OF  CHRIST.       147 

Psa.  45  :  7  ;  Heb.  1:9.  In  his  first  great  ser- 
mon after  his  baptism  and  return  to  Nazareth, 
Jesus  Christ  clearly  and  unequivocally  applied 
to  himself  these  words  of  Isaiah  :  "  The  Spirit 
of  the  Lord  God  is  upon  me,  because  he  hath 
anointed  me  to  preach  good  tidings  to  the 
meek,''  etc.  Compare  Luke  4 :  16-22  and  Isa. 
61  :l-3.  He  said  :  "This  day  is  this  Scrip- 
ture fulfilled." 

V.  Jesus  Christ  was  sent  of  God  into  the 
world  on  the  very  work  of  a  high  priest. 
Malachi  had  foretold  that  he  should  be  the 
"  Messenger  of  the  covenant  f  and  Paul  well 
calls  him  "  the  Apostle  and  High  Priest  of  our 
profession. "  Mai.  3:1  and  Heb.  3:1.  In 
John's  gospel  Christ  is  thirty  times  declared 
to  have  been  sent  by  his  Father:  "I  must 
work  the  works  of  him  that  sent  me  f  "It  is 
my  meat  to  do  the  will  of  him  that  sent  me," 
mples.  Indeed,  Jesus  said  expressly 
that  he  both  taught  and  wrought  miracles  that 
moil  might  believe  that  God  had  sent  him. 
John  11  :42.  And  in  his  days  humble  souls 
so  received  him  ;  for  Nicodemus  said  :  "  We 
know  that  thou  art  a  teacher  come  from  God." 

YI.  Jesus  Christ  was  fit  to  be  our  High 
Priest,  because  he  was  "without  sin."     He)). 


148      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

4:15.  He  was  without  original  sin,  for  he 
was  not  represented  in  Adam,  our  first  parent 
standing  only  for  such  as  descended  from  him 
by  ordinary  generation.  So  the  angel  who 
announced  him  to  Mary  called  him  "  that 
Holy  Thing  which  shall  be  born  of  thee."  It 
was  every  way  necessary  that  our  High  Priest 
should  be  holy.  God  could  have  been  in  no 
way  pleased  with  a  high  priest  acting,  offer- 
ing, or  interceding  for  us,  if  like  ourselves  he 
was  a  sinner,  tainted  and  vile.  Nor  could 
we,  with  any  just  sense  of  sin,  ever  have  been 
brought  to  put  our  confidence  in  one  who  was 
himself  guilty  and  rebellious.  Jesus  was  not 
only  not  a  sinner,  but  he  was  impeccable. 
It  is  with  great  delight  that  we  read:  "Such 
a  High  Priest  became  us,  who  is  holy, 
harmless,  undefiled,  separate  from  sinners." 
God  the  Father  knew  how  vital  this  point 
was,  and  so  he  has  given  us  the  most  ample 
satisfaction  respecting  it.  At  Christ's  bap- 
tism a  voice  from  heaven  said:  "This  is  my 
beloved  Son,  in  whom  I  am  well  pleased." 
Matt.  3:17.  So  on  the  mount  of  transfigura- 
tion, a  voice  out  of  the  cloud  said,  "This  is 
my  beloved  Son,  in  whom  I  am  well  pleased : 
hear  ye  him."     Matt.  17:5.     John  says  he 


THE  PRIESTHOOD  OF  CHRIST.       149 

was  "fall  of  grace  and  truth."  John  1:14. 
Even  the  miserable  trifler  who  sat  in  judgment 
on  our  Lord  said :  ' '  I  find  no  fault  in  this  man." 
Nay,  more  ;  he  says,  "  I  find  no  fault  at  all ;" 
"I  find  no  fault  in  him  f  "I  find  no  fault  in 
him."  Luke  23:4;  John  18:38;  19:4,  6. 
Even  infidels  generally  have  admitted  that 
his  character  was  blameless.  The  only  true 
thing  his  enemies  ever  said  in  their  malice 
•gainst  him  while  on  earth  was,  that  in  which 
we  glory:  "This  man  receiveth  sinners." 
Luke  15:2.  Though  not  a  sinner  himself,  he 
loves  sinners,  he  pities  sinners,  he  died  for 
sinners,  he  saves  sinners,  he  saves  none  but 
sinners,  he  had  no  other  errand  on  earth.  0 
blessed  be  God,  the  Lord  Christ  owed  no  obe- 
dience to  the  law  for  himself,  for  he  was  the 
Lawgiver.  He  needed  not,  as  other  high 
priests,  daily  to  offer  up  sacrifice,  first  for  his 
own  sins,  and  then  for  the  people's.  Heb. 
7  :27.  We  have  his  merits  and  his  blood  for 
omr  salvation.  He  needed  no  sacrifice  to  make 
him  personally  a  sweet  savor  unto  God. 

VII.  Christ  is  a  priest,  not  after  the  order 
of  Aaron,  but  after  the  order  of  Melchisedek. 
Under  tin,'  law.  (lie  high  priest  held  no  other 
office ;  but  Melchisedek  and  Christ  held  the 


150      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

two  offices  of  King  and  Priest.  Melchisedek 
signifies  king  of  righteousness  ;  and  lie  was 
also  king  of  Salem,  which  is  King  of  peace. 
So  Jesus,  by  reason  of  his  infinite  superemi- 
nence,  is  most  fitly  styled  both  king  of  righte- 
ousness and  king  of  peace.  He  brought  in 
everlasting  righteousness,  so  that  God  is  now 
as  righteous  as  he  is  merciful'  in  pardoning 
sin  and  in  accepting  the  sinner.  And  Jesus 
is  the  King  of  peace.  He  is  the  author  of  all 
the  peace  between  God  and  penitent  sinners, 
between  Jews  and  Gentiles.  His  blood  speaks 
peace  to  the  conscience.  He  is  our  Peace. 
Neither  the  name  of  Melchisedek,  nor  that  of 
his  parents  is  found  in  the  genealogical  tables 
of  the  tribe  of  Levi.  "  And  it  is  evident  that 
our  Lord  sprang  out  of  Juda ;  of  which  tribe 
Moses  spake  nothing  concerning  priesthood." 
Melchisedek  was  greater  than  Aaron,  greater 
than  Levi,  greater  than  Abraham ;  for  to  him 
Abraham  paid  tithes,  and  from  him  received 
a  blessing;  "and  without  all  contradiction  the 
less  is  blessed  of  the  better."  In  the  whole 
history  of  Melchisedek  he  appeared  but  once ; 
so  "now  once  in  the  end  of  the  world  hath 
Christ  appeared  to  put  away  sin  by  the  sacri- 
fice of  himself."  And  as  Melchisedek,  so  Christ 


THE  PRIESTHOOD  OF  CHEIST.        151 

had  no  predecessor  and  no  successor  in  office. 
He  needed  none.  None  was  fit  for  such  a 
work.     Christ's  work  is  perfect. 

VIII.  Jesus  Christ  made  a  suitable  offer- 
ing to  God.  "  Every  high  priest  is  ordained 
to  offer  gifts  and  sacrifices ;  wherefore  it  is  of 
necessity  that  this  man  have  somewhat  also  to 
offer."  Heb.  8 :  3.  Accordingly  Christ  gave 
"himself  for  us  an  offering  and  a  sacrifice  to 
God  for  a  sweet-smelling  savor."  Eph.  5  :  2. 
In  order  to  Christ's  oblation  availing  for  us, 
it  must  be  something  that  he  had  a  right  to 
offer,  something  that  he  was  willing  to  offer, 
something  that  was  itself  very  precious,  and 
something  that  God  entirely  approved  and 
highly  esteemed.  On  each  of  these  points 
the  Scriptures  give  us  the  most  entire  satis- 
faction. Not  a  doubt  is  left  on  the  mind  of 
one  who  takes  God's  word  for  his  guide. 
Other  priests  offered  bulls  and  goats  and 
lambs;  but  Jesus  offered  himself,  his  entire 
human  nature.  "We  are  sanctified  through 
the  offering  of  the  body  of  Jesus  Christ  once 
for  all."  JI.cb.  10:10.  Here,  as  in  many 
other  places,  body  means  the  whole  man. 
First  he  offered  his  corporeal  nature.  It 
spit  upon,  smitten,  crowned  with  thorns; 


152      THE  KOCK  OF  OUK  SALVATION. 

was  nailed  to  the  cross,  was  thrilled  with 
agony,  was  dead  and  buried.  He  also  offered 
his  soul.  Even  before  his  arrest,  so  terribly 
did  the  wrath  of  God  press  upon  him  that  his 
sweat  was  as  great  drops  of  blood.  He  ex- 
claimed :  "My  soul  is  exceeding  sorrowful, 
even  unto  death. "  All  this  was  according 
to  prophecy,  for  the  evangelical  prophet  had 
said,  "Thou  shalt  make  his  soul  an  offering 
for  sin."  Isa.  53:10.  His  divinity  was  the 
altar,  which  sanctified  his  oblation.  His  whole 
person  made  the  offering,  or  presented  the 
gift.  And  his  entire  human  nature  was  the 
sacrifice.  His  sacrifice  was  true,  not  fictitious ; 
real,  not  imaginary ;  proper,  not  typical.  His 
one  oblation  was  enough.  It  opened  the  gates 
of  heaven  to  all  believers.  God  has  accepted 
it  before  angels  and  men.  Under  the  law  of 
Moses  no  sacrifice  took  away  sin.  Heb.  10 : 4. 
All  was  type,  figure,  shadow  of  something  to 
come.  But  when  Christ  came  he  slew  the 
enmity,  he  took  away  the  hand -writing  that 
was  against  us,  he  satisfied  divine  justice,  he 
brought  redemption.  Under  the  law  sacrifices 
were  ordained  only  for  sins  of  ignorance,  sins 
against  the  law  of  ceremonies,  and  sins  admit- 
ting of  restitution.     No  provision  was  made 


THE  PRIESTHOOD  OF  CHRIST.        153 

for  sacrifices  for  murder,  or  unbelief,  or  pride, 
or  malice.  Accordingly,  when  David  found 
himself  convicted  of  violating  the  sixth  and 
seventh  commandments,  he  said,  "Thoudesir- 
est  not  sacrifice,  else  would  I  give  it."  But 
"  the  Lamb  of  God  taketh  away  the  sin  of  the 
world."  "The  blood  of  Jesus  Christ,  his  Son, 
cleanseth  us  from  all  sin."  So  that  "he  has 
perfected  for  ever  them  that  are  sanctified." 
He  has  made  the  comers  to  his  altar  perfect, 
as  concerning  offering  for  sin. 

IX.  When  the  high  priest  under  the  law 
had  shed  the  blood  and  offered  the  victim,  he 
made  his  intercessions  in  this  lower  world,  in 
a  place  made  with  hands ;  but  Christ  has  en- 
tered "into  heaven  itself,  now  to  appear  in 
the  presence  of  God  for  us."  Heb.  9 :  24. 
Thus  he  is  "made  higher  than  the  heavens." 
Heb.  7 :  26.  None  else  was  ever  permitted  to 
si  and  before  the  blazing  throne  in  heaven  and 
with  authority  plead  with  God.  In  all  things 
Jesus  has  the  preeminence.  Now  "if  any  man 
sin.  we  have  an  Advocate  with  the  Father,  Jesus 
Christ  the  righteous."  We  know  where  he  is 
and  what  he  is  doing.  He  "is  passed  into  the 
heavens."  He  is  at  the  right  hand  of  God. 
He  is  preparing  a  place  for  his  people.     "He 

7* 


154      THE  EOCK  OF  OUB  SALVATION. 

ever  liveth  to  make  intercession  for  us."  His 
blood  speaketh  peace.  His  appearance  is  our 
advocacy.  The  arguments  he  uses  are  the 
wounds  he  received.  His  intercession  never 
fails.  "  Him  the  Father  heareth  always."  If 
you  would  see  how  he  prays,  study  John  17th. 
It  is  remarkable,  however,  that  the  law  of 
Moses  gives  no  form  of  words  to  be  used  by 
the  high  priest  in  the  holy  of  holies.  So 
Christ's  intercession  may  be  very  much  in  his 
"  appearance  for  us."  When  an  Athenian  was 
about  to  be  sentenced  for  crime,  his  worthy 
brother,  who  had  terribly  bled  for  the  liber- 
ties of  his  country,  came  into  court,  looked  at 
the  prisoner  tenderly  and  at  the  judges  im- 
ploringly, at  the  same  time  lifting  up  the 
stump  of  an  arm,  as  if  to  plead.  It  was 
enough.  The  argument  was  decisive.  The 
prisoner  went  free. 

X.  The  high  priest,  having  fulfilled  his 
office  in  the  holy  place,  came  forth  and  gave 
his  benediction  to  Israel,  saying  :  "  The  Lord 
bless  thee,  and  keep  thee :  the  Lord  make  his 
face  shine  upon  .thee,  and  be  gracious  unto 
thee  :  the  Lord  lift  up  his  countenance  upon 
thee,  and  give  thee  peace."  Num.  6:24-26. 
"So  Christ  was  once  offered  to  bear  the  sins 


THE  PRIESTHOOD  OF  CHRIST..       155 

of  many  ;  and  unto  them  that  look  for  him  shall 
he  appear  the  second  time  without  sin  unto  sal- 
vation." Heb.  9  :  28.  0  yes!  He  will  come 
again,  not  in  sadness,  not  with  lips  swollen 
with  grief,  not  with  his  visage  marred  more 
than  any  man;  but  in  his  glory,  and  all  the 
holy  angels  with  him.  Then  shall  he  say, 
"Come,  ye  blessed  of  my  Father,  inherit  the 
kingdom  prepared  for  you  from  the  founda- 
tion of  the  world."  0  that  our  ears  may  hear 
that  blessed  plaudit ! 

XI.  Under  the  law  men  came  into  the 
high  priest's  office,  and  went  out  of  it  again ; 
but  Jesus  Christ,  "because  he  continue th  ever, 
hath  an  unchangeable  priesthood."  He  "ever 
liveth."  He  "is  consecrated  for  ever  more." 
He  is  made  a  high  priest,  not  "after  the  Uxav 
of  a  carnal  commandment,  but  after  the  power 
of  an  endless  life."  He  "is  a  priest  for  ever." 
Heb.  7:1G,  17,  24,  25,  28.  He  abideth  ever 
over  the  house  of  God.  0  I  am  glad — are  not 
you? — that  there  is  to  be  no  change  in  the 
priesthood  of  our  profession.  No  change  is 
possible.  None  but  Jesus  is  worthy  of  the 
office.  Any  change  would  be  for  the  worse. 
We  could  never  have  another  like  Jesus. 

His  priesthood  suggests  these  lessons  : 


156      THE  EOCK  OF  OUK  SALVATION. 

1.  How  vain  are  all  other  sacrifices  for  sin. 
No  tears,  no  blood,  no  offerings  but  those  of 
Christ  can  avail  for  us.  He  who  pleads  other 
merits  before  God  is  a  thief  and  a  robber. 
John  10  : 1.  A  few  years  ago,  an  archbishop 
of  Paris  was  dying  of  wounds  received  in  an 
cmeute.  He  said :  "0  God,  I  offer  to  thee  my 
present  bodily  sufferings  as  an  atonement  for 
the  errors  of  my  episcopate. "  But  the  suffer- 
ings of  a  sinner  have  no  merit,  no  efficacy  to 
atone.  Jesus  only,  Jesus  alone  has  so  suf- 
fered as  to  make  reconciliation  for  the  people. 

2.  In  Christ  we  have  all  we  need.  Jesus 
is  so  excellent  in  person  and  character,  and  is 
so  highly  in  favor  with  God,  that  if  he  will 
but  manage  our  cause  and  plead  for  us  before 
the  throne,  we  cannot  fail.  He  counts  it  not 
robbery  to  be  equal  with  God,  and  yet  he  is 
not  ashamed  to  call  us  brethren.  He  can  lay 
his  hand  upon  God  and  upon  us.  In  all 
things  he  suits  our  case  and  meets  our  neces- 
sities. His  offering  was  perfect.  It  was  fully 
accepted  of  God.  He  was  a  sin-offering.  He 
bore  the  sin  of  many.  This  suits  us.  Sinners, 
sinners  only,  sinners  always  need  expiation. 
The  effect  of  Christ's  oblation  has  been  mar- 
vellous.    Its  wonders  will  never  cease.     It  is 


THE  PKIESTHOOD  OF  CHRIST.        157 

now  filling  heaven  with  a  happy  throng  of 
worshippers,  and  with  thundering  hallelujahs. 

3.  With  Christ  for  our  high  priest,  Ave 
may  exercise  great  boldness  in  prayer.  Thus 
Paul  reasons :  "  Let  us  therefore  come  boldly 
unto  the  throne  of  grace,  that  we  may  obtain 
mercy,  and  find  grace  to  Iiclp  in  time  of  need.'' 
Again :  "Having  a  high  priest  over  the  house 
of  God,  let  us  draw  near  with  a  true  heart, 
in  full  assurance  of  faith,  having  our  hearts 
sprinkled  from  an  evil  conscience  and  our 
bodies  washed  with  pure  water."  Heb.  4:16; 
10:21,22. 

4.  In  Christ's  priesthood  we  have  a  sure 
foundation  for  Christian  steadfastness.  So 
Paul  reasoned:  "  Seeing  then  that  we  have  a 
great  High  Priest,  that  is  passed  into  the  heav- 
en-, Jesus  the  Son  of  God,  let  us  hold  fast  our 
profession."  Again:  "Let  us  hold  fast  the 
profession  of  our  faith  without  wavering;  for 
he  is  faithful  that  promised."  Heb.  4:14; 
10 :  23.  It  cannot  but  be  safe  to  rely  on  such 
a  Redeemer,  and  fearlessly  do  our  duty. 

5.  This  doctrine  is  essentially  connected 
with  the  whole  life  of  faith  as  Paul  shows  at 
length  in  the  eleventh  chapter  of  Hebrews. 

G.  This  doctrine  is  full  of  comfort  to  the 


158      THE  BOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

afflicted.     So  Paul  uses  it  at  length  in  the 
twelfth  chapter  of  Hebrews. 

7.  This  doctrine  leads  the  pious  soul  to 
acts  of  thanksgiving,  as  nothing  else  does. 
"  By  him  therefore  let  us  offer  the  sacrifice  of 
praise  to  God  continually,  that  is,  the  fruit  of 
our  lips,  giving  thanks  to  his  name."  Heb. 
13  :  15.  The  great  gospel  feast  is  that  of  the 
Eucharist. 

8.  The  great  motive  to  a  life  of  benevo- 
lence is  drawn  from  this  doctrine  of  Christ's 
priesthood.  So  Paul  uses  it:  "Be  not  forget- 
ful to  entertain  strangers ;"  "Kemember  them 
that  are  in  bonds,  as  bound  with  them  j"  "To 
do  good,  and  to  communicate,  forget  not :  for 
with  such  sacrifices  God  is  well  pleased." 
Heb.  13:2,  3,  16. 

9.  It  is  at  our  peril  that  we  reject  the 
priesthood  of  Jesus.  Yea  more,  we  are  un- 
done if  we  do  it.  On  this  point  Paul  is  urgent : 
"How  shall  we  escape  if  we  neglect  so  great 
salvation?"  "See  that  ye  refuse  not  him  that 
speaketh."  ■  ■  He  that  despised  Moses'  law  died 
without  mercy  under  two  or  three  witnesses : 
Of  how  much  sorer  punishment,  suppose  ye, 
shall  he  be  thought  worthy,  who  hath  trodden 
under  foot  the  Son  of  God,  and  hath  counted 


THE  PRIESTHOOD  OF  CHRIST.        159 

the  blood  of  the  covenant,  wherewith  he  was 
sanctified,  an  unholy  thing,  and  hath  done 
despite  unto  the  Spirit  of  grace."  Heb.  2:3; 
12  :  25  ;  10  :  28,  29.  These  solemn  and  awful 
texts  establish  these  points :  1.  Neglect  of 
Christ  is  refusal  of  his  grace.  2.  Persistent 
neglect  of  Christ  is  followed  by  inevitable 
damnation.-  3.  There  is  something  worse  than 
dying  without  mercy  under  Moses'  law.  4.  Sin 
reaches  its  height  when  we  trample  on  the 
blood  of  Christ.  5.  He  who  neglects  Christ, 
does  despite  to  the  Holy  Spirit.  A  gospel 
despiser  is  acting  as  foolishly  as  he  is  wick- 
edly. 0  impenitent  man  !  your  condition  is 
indeed  sad.  Your  worst  fears  are  not  as  bad 
as  the  truth  would  justify.  The  awful  sen- 
tence of  a  broken  law  is  against  you ;  your 
own  conscience  will  sooner  or  later  flash  dam- 
nation  in  your  face;  even  now  your  polluted 
heart  often  writhes  in  agony;  your  wicked 
life  is  a  token  of  perdition.  The  day  of  your 
death  is  near  at  hand  ;  there  is  a  dreadful 
hell  just  before  you,  and  you  deserve  to  be 
cast  into  it.  0  turn,  0  turn,  0  turn  to  God 
before  the  door  of  mercy  closes  for  ever. 


160      THE  KOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 
CHAPTER  IX. 

CHKIST  A  KING. 

Those  who  reject  Christ  as  King  have 
never  truly  received  him  as  Prophet  or  Priest. 
His  yoke  and  his  doctrine,  his  rule  and  his 
rest,  go  together.  If  his  love  does  not  make 
us  obedient  to  his  laws,  we  have  no  interest 
in  his  merits.  We  are  not  wise  unto  salva- 
tion till  we  bow  to  his  authority.  If  we  are 
partakers  of  his  redemption,  we  are  certainly 
partakers  of  his  holiness.  We  may  talk  of  his 
wonderful  teachings,  or  boast  of  our  interest 
in  his  amazing  sacrifice,  but  it  is  all  in  vain 
so  long  as  we  refuse  to  own  him  as  our  Leader 
and  Commander.  Wherever  he  comes  to  bless, 
he  comes  as  a  Conqueror.  His  rule  is  as  just 
as  it  is  welcome  to  the  penitent :  "  For  to  this 
end  Christ  both  died,  and  rose,  and  revived, 
that  he  might  be  Lord  both  of  the  dead  and 
living."  Rom.  14  :  9.  No  law  of  Christ  is  too 
strict  for  a  believer.  With  a  controlling  power 
his  conscience  enforces,  and  his  heart  embraces 
every  precept  of  his  Master.  The  kingly  office 
of  Christ  is  our  theme. 


CHRIST  A  KING.  161 

I.  Prophecy  required  that  Christ  should 
be  a  King.  So  ran  that  great  fundamental 
prediction  made  to  David  :  "I  will  set  up  thy 
seed  after  thee  .  .  .  and  I  will  establish  his 
kingdom  .  .  .  and  I  will  stablish  the  throne  of 
his  kingdom  for  ever.  I  will  be  his  Father, 
and  he  shall  be  my  Son."  2  Sam.  7  :  12-14. 
Again  :  "I  have  set  my  King  upon  my  holy 
hill  of  Zion."  Psa.  2  :  6.  Again  :  "  Unto  us  a 
Child  is  born,  unto  us  a  Son  is  given  :  and  the 
government  shall  be  upon  his  shoulder  :  and 
his  name  shall  be  called- Wonderful,  Counsel- 
lor, the  mighty  God,  the  everlasting  Father, 
the  Prince  of  Peace.  Of  the  increase  of  his 
government  and  peace  there  shall  be  no  end, 
upon  the  throne  of  David,  and  upon  his  king- 
dom, to  order  it,  and  to  establish  it  with  judg- 
ment and  with  justice  from  henceforth  even  for 
ever."  Isa.  9  :6,  7.  The  great  promise  to  Beth- 
lehem Ephratah  was:  "  Out  of  thee  shall  he 
come  forth  unto  me  that  is  to  be  Ruler  in 
IsraeL"  Mic.  5:2.  So  also  the  angel  Gabriel 
said  of  him  to  Mary:  "He  shall  be  great,  and 
shall  be  called  the  Son  of  the  Highest ;  and 
the  Lord  God  shall  give  unto  him  the  throne 
of  htfl  lather  David.  And  he  shall  reign  over 
the  house  of  Jacob  for  ever  ;  and  of  his  king- 


162      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

dom  there  shall  be  no  end."  Luke  1  :  32,  33. 
It  is  thus  clear  that  prophecy  required  him  to 
be  a  King. 

II.  When  Jesus  Christ  was  upon  his  trial 
before  Pilate,  that  guilty  trifler  "said  unto 
him,  Art  thou  a  king  then  f  And  in  the  lan- 
guage commonly  used  in  those  days  to  affirm, 
he  answered,  "Thou  sayest  that  I  am  a  king." 
The  meaning  is,  Thou  correctly  sayest  I  am  a 
king.  And  that  all  may  see  his  solemn  ear- 
nestness, he  immediately  adds,  "To  this  end 
was  I  born,  and  for  this  cause  came  I  into  the 
world,  that  I  should  bear  witness  unto  the 
truth.  Every  one  that  is  of  the  truth  hear- 
eth  my  voice."  So  that  Christ's  mission  into 
this  world  would  have  been  in  vain,  if  this 
"trutJi"  had  not  been  received.  Twenty- 
seven  years  after  Christ's  trial,  Paul,  writing 
to  a  young  minister,  and  giving  him  a  charge 
to  be  faithful,  calls  his  attention  to  this  awful 
scene  in  the  judgment-hall,  when  "Jesus  Christ 
before  Pontius  Pilate  witnessed  a  good  con- 
fession." 1  Tim.  6:13.  The  only  thing  Christ 
confessed  on  his  trial  before  Pilate  was,  that 
he  was  a  king  and  Christ.  This  was  his  ' '  good 
confession."  It  was  good,  because  it  was  true. 
"  He  sealed  it  with  his  precious  blood." 


CHKIST  A  KING.  163 

III.  Jesus  Christ  is  often  called  Lord, 
Master,  Governor,  Ruler,  Shepherd,  Prince, 
Prince  and  Saviour,  the  great  Prince,  the 
Prince  of  Life,  the  Prince  of  Peace,  the  Prince 
of  princes,  the  Prince  of  the  kings  of  the  earth, 
a  King,  the  King,  the  King  of  kings  and  Lord 
of  lords.  This  last  title  is  first  found  in  1  Tim- 
othy 6:15,  16  :  "Which  in  his  times  he  shall 
show,  who  is  the  blessed  and  only  Potentate, 
the  King  of  kings  and  Lord  of  lords,  who  only 
hath  immortality,  dwelling  in  the  light  which 
no  man  can  approach  unto ;  whom  no  man 
hath  seen,  nor  can  see  :  to  whom  be  honor 
and  power  everlasting.  Amen."  Some  apply 
this  passage  to  Christ,  some  to  the  Father, 
and  some  to  the  Godhead  without  distinction 
of  persons.  For  the  purposes  of  this  argu- 
ment, either  mode  suits  our  object.  If  it  refers 
to  Christ,  it  settles  the  question  of  his  kingly 
authority.  If  it  refers  to  the  Father,  or  to 
the  Divinity  without  distinction  of  persons, 
then  it  settles  the  point  that  the  highest  sov- 

j;nty  is  thus  declared.  And  we  have  the 
very  same  language,  thirty-five  years  after, 
applied  to  ( Jhrist :  "  The  Lamb  shall  overcome 
them:  for  he  is  Lord  of  lords  and  King  of 
kings  ;"  "And  he  hath  on  his  vesture  and  on 


164      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

his  thigh  a  name  written,  King  of  kings  and 
Lord  of  lords.  "  Eev.  17:14;  19  :16.  Surely 
Jesus  is  a  King. 

IV.  In  the  Scriptures,  Jesus  Christ  is  said 
to  possess  all  the  badges  and  tokens  of  a  king. 
He  has  a  throne  :  "  Thy  throne,  0  God,  is  for 
ever  and  ever,"  Heb.  1:8;  "To  him  that 
overcometh  will  I  give  to  sit  with  me  in  my 
throne,"  Rev.  3:21.  He  has  a  crown;  for 
we  read  of  "  the  crown  wherewith  his  mother 
crowned  him  in  the  day  of  his  espousals." 
Cant.  3:11.  About  a  thousand  years  later 
John  says:  "And  a  crown  was  given  unto 
him;  and  he  went  forth  conquering,  and  to 
conquer."  Rev.  6:2.  And  to  show  the  am- 
plitude of  his  kingly  authority,  John  says  : 
"  And  on  his  head  were  many  crowns."  Rev. 
19  :  12.  Christ  has  a  sceptre  :  "A  sceptre  of 
righteousness  is  the  sceptre  of  thy  kingdom." 
Heb.  1:8.  Christ  has  a  kingdom.  He  says 
to  Pilate  :  ' '  My  kingdom  is  not  of  this  world  : 
if  my  kingdom  were  of  this  world,  then  would 
my  servants  fight,  that  I  should  not  be  deliv- 
ered to  the  Jews :  but  now  is  my  kingdom  not 
from  hence."  John  18  :  36.  Christ  has  sub- 
jects. In  the  verse  just  cited  he  speaks  of  his 
servants.     His  people  in  heaven  and  earth  feel 


CHRIST  A  KING.  165 

honored  by  being  allowed  to  live  under  him, 
and  to  serve  him.  And  at  God's  command 
all  the  angels  of  heaven  have  taken  the  oath 
of  allegiance  to  him  :  "Let  all  the  angels  of 
God  worship  him."  Heb.  1:6.  He  has  the 
sword:  "  Gird  thy  sword  upon  thy  thigh,  0 
most  Mighty,  with  thy  glory  and  thy  majesty." 
Psa.  45  : 3.  He  deals  with  his  enemies  like  a 
great  King  :  "He  shall  break  them  with  a  rod 
of  iron,  and  dash  them  in  pieces  like  a  potter's 
vessel."     Psa.  2  :  9.     Surely  he  is  a  King. 

V.  But  wThat  sort  of  a  king  is  Christ?    Let 
us  see. 

1.  He  is  an  everlasting  King:  His  "go- 
ings forth  have  been  from  of  old,  from  ever-- 
lasting."  Mic  5:2.  He  "was  in  the  begin- 
ning with  God."  John  1:2.  He  "  was  set  up 
from  everlasting,  from  the  beginning,  or  ever 
the  earth  was."     Prov.  8:23.     Nor  shall  he 

r  cease  to  be  King :  "  Thy  throne,  0  God, 
is  for  ever  and  ever."  Heb.  1 :8.  The  great 
prophet  of  the  captivity  expressly  says  his 
"  kingdom  is  an  everlasting  kingdom,"  "which 
shall  never  be  destroyed."  Dan.  2  :44  ;  7:27. 
I  lis  throne  shall  endure  as  the  days  of  hcav- 
( J  lory  to  God  for  that. 

2.  He  is  a  wise  King.     One  of  his  names 


166      THE  KOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

is  Wisdom.  Prov.  8.  According  to  proph- 
ecy, he  has  dealt  prudently  in  all  things. 
Isa.  52:13.  He  has  never  made  any  mistake. 
He  orders  and  establishes  his  kingdom  with 
the  ken  of  omniscience.  He  leads  his  people 
by  the  right  way,  that  they  may  go  to  a  city 
of  habitation.  Psa.  107 : 7.  He  teaches  them 
all  in  the  way  of  wisdom  ;  he  leads  them  in 
right  paths.  Wl  en  they  go,  their  steps  shall 
not  be  straitened ;  and  when  they  run  they 
shall  not  stumble. 

3.  He  is  a  just  King.  He  preserveth  the 
faithful,  and  plentifully  rewardeth  the  proud- 
doer.  Just  and  right  is  he.  He  accepteth 
not  the  person  of  princes,  nor  regardeth  the 
rich  more  than  the  poor.  "A  sceptre  of  right- 
eousness is  the  sceptre  of  his  kingdom."  Heb. 
1 :8.  However  things  may  seem  to  us,  right- 
eousness and  judgment  are  the  habitation  of 
his  throne.  Our  King  can  do  no  wrong.  He 
never  has  done  wrong  to  any.  Much  as  he 
had  set  his  heart  on  saving  sinners,  he  would 
not  open  the  gates  of  paradise  to  one  of  them 
till  he  had  bound  himself  by  oath  and  cove- 
nant to  satisfy  all  the  claims  of  justice,  and  to 
bring  in  everlasting  righteousness.  He  will 
not  carry  one  sinner  to  glory,  trampling  on 


CHRIST  A  KING.  167 

the  rights  and  government  of  God  as  he  goes. 
When  the  awful  scenes  of  the  last  day  shall 
come,  the  heavens  shall  declare  his  righteous- 
ness, and  all  the  people  see  his  glory.  Not  a 
blot  shall  be  found  on  his  escutcheon,  nor  an 
error  in  his  awards.  Hallelujah  !  The  Judge 
of  all  the  earth  will  do  right. 

4.  Christ  is  an  almighty  King.  Nothing 
is  too  hard  for  him.  None  can  resist  him. 
He  carries  the  keys  of  the  invisible  world  ; 
he  opens,  and  none  can  shut ;  he  shuts,  and 
none  can  open.  He  controls  all  causes  and 
all  agents.  He  is  the  Lord  strong  and  mighty, 
the  Lord  mighty  in  battle.  Who  would  set 
the  briers  and  thorns  against  him  in  battle  ? 
lie  would  go  through  them,  and  burn  them 
together.  At  his  rebuke  the  pillars  of  heaven 
tremble.  The  hiding  of  his  power  none  can 
understand.  He  is  "the  Almighty."  Rev. 
1:8.  Hallelujah,  for  the  Lord  God  omnipo- 
tent reigneth. 

5.  Jesus  is  a  meek,  tender,  merciful,  conde- 
scending King.     He  never  breaks  the  bruised 

1.  He  never  quenches  the  smoking  flax. 
The  haughtiest  monarchs  he  has  trodden  to 
hell  ;  but  he  never  trampled  on  a  broken 
heart.     "Rejoice  greatly,  0  daughter  of  Zion  ; 


168      THE  BOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

shout,  0  daughter  of  Jerusalem;  behold,  thy 
King  cometh  unto  thee :  he  is  just,  and  hav- 
ing salvation  ;  lowly,  and  riding  upon  an  ass." 
Zech.  9:9.  Yes,  He  who  commands  the  twenty 
thousand  chariots  of  heaven,  Psalm  68  :  17, 
entered  the  holy  city  in  the  humblest  manner, 
even  when  receiving  a  triumph  decreed  to 
him  by  prophecy.  Yea  more,  he  wept  over 
the  very  city  that  was  about  to  imbrue  its 
hands  in  his  blood.  It  was  but  ten  days  after 
his  ascension  till  he  sent  his  ministers  and  his 
Spirit  to  call  his  murderers  to  repentance; 
and  in  one  day  thousands  of  them  were  made 
to  rejoice  in  his  loving-kindness.  Though  the 
heaven  is  his  throne  and  the  earth  is  his  foot- 
stool, yet  he  dwells  with  him  that  is  poor  and 
of  a  contrite  spirit,  and  trembles  at  God's 
word. 

6.  Jesus  Christ  is  a  King  of  exhaustless 
resources.  He  has  unsearchable  riches.  He 
is  heir  of  all  things.  The  stars,  and  the  sea, 
and  the  dry  land  are  his,  for  he  made  them. 
He  is  Lord  of  angels.  "He  is  Lord  of  all." 
Acts  10 : 36.  Yea,  he  is  "the  Lord  of  glory." 
1  Cor.  2 : 8.  All  power  in  heaven  and  earth 
is  given  unto  him.  Matt.  28:18.  When  he 
promises  grace  and  glory,  we  know  it  is  sure 


CHKIST  A  KING.  169 

to  come.  AVhcn  he  pledges  a  crown  and  a 
kingdom  and  a  royal  priesthood  to  the  hum- 
blest of  his  followers,  we  may  judge  of  his 
immense  treasures  and  possessions.  He  gives 
even  to  his  enemies,  many  a  time,  great  wealth, 
and  even  diadems,  though  he  respects  no 
man's  person.  The  earth  is  his,  and  the  ful- 
thereof. 
VI.  But  what  sort  of  a  kingdom  has  Christ? 
Just  such  as  you  would  expect  such  a  King  to 
preside  over. 

1.  It  is  divinely  ordered  and  ordained. 
Hear  his  own  words  :  "I  appoint  unto  you  a 
kingdom,  as  my  Father  hath  appointed  unto 
me."  Luke  22:29.  His  regal  power  is  no 
usurpation:  "The  Father  of  glory  .  .  .  raised 
him  from  the  dead,  and  set  him  at  his  own 
right  hand  in  the  heavenly  places,  far  above 
all  principality,  and  power,  and  might,  and 
dominion,  and  every  name  that  is  named,  not 
only  in  this  world,  but  also  in  that  which  is 
to  come ;  and  hath  put  all  things  under  his 
feet,  and  gave  him  to  be  the  head  over  all 
things  to  the  church.''     Eph.  1 :17,  20-22. 

2.  Christ's  kingdom  is  not  of  this  world. 
Ii«'  Bays  so  expressly,  John  18:36.    It  is  not 

■d  on  worldly  wisdom;  it  is  not  ruled  by 


170      THE  EOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

worldly  maxims ;  it  is  not  managed  by  crafty 
statesmanship.  Scott  says:  "It  has  nothing 
to  do  with  men's  temporal  interests  or  privi- 
leges ;  it  leaves  rulers  and  subjects  in  the  same 
situation  as  it  found  them.  It  is  .therefore  no 
fit  object  of  jealousy  to  any  government.  Je- 
sus never  armed  his  followers.  His  disciples 
were  inoffensive  in  their  habits,  and  were  for- 
bidden to  fight  for  him,  even  when  he  was 
apprehended.  So  that  his  kingdom  is  clearly 
not  of  a  secular  nature,  but  relates  wholly  to 
spiritual  and  heavenly  things,  and  is  sup- 
ported entirely  by  spiritual  sanctions  and 
authority.77 

3.  Christ's  kingdom  is  not  his  without  a 
cause.  He  has  deserved  all  his  honors  and 
all  his  authority.  He  is  not  on  the  throne  by 
an  act  of  grace  to  him,  but  by  his  own  ama- 
zing merits:  He  was  "in  the  form  of  God,'7 
and  ' '  thought  it  not  robbery  to  be  equal  with 
God  ;  but  made  himself  of  no  reputation,  and 
took  upon  him  the  form  of  a  servant,  and 
was  made  in  the  likeness  of  men  :  and  being- 
found  in  fashion  as  a  man,  he  humbled  him- 
self, and  became  obedient  unto  death,  even  the 
death  of  the  cross.  Wherefore  God  also  hath 
highly  exalted  him,  and  given  him  a  name 


CHKIST  A  KING.  171 

which  is  above  every  name;  that  at  the  name 
of  Jesus  every  knee  should  bow,  of  things  in 
heaven,  and  things  in  earth,  and  things  under 
the  earth,  and  that  every  tongue  should  con- 
fess that  Jesus  Christ  is  Lord,  to  the  glory  of 
God  the  Father."  Phil.  2:6-11.  All  heaven 
publicly  and  adoringly  ascribes  his  kingly  ex- 
altation to  his  own  merits.  Rev.  5:12.  Their 
cry  ever  is,  "  Worthy  is  the  Lamb." 

4.  His  kingdom  is  universal.  It  includes 
all  worlds,  all  creatures,  all  causes.  Nothing 
in  heaven,  nothing  in  earth,  nothing  under  the 
earth  is  outside  of  it.  His  saints  praise  him. 
The  angels  adore  him.  The  devils  are  subject 
to  him.  The  king's  heart  is  in  his  hands,  and 
he  turneth  it  whithersoever  he  will.  His  king- 
dom rulcth  over  all. 

5.  Christ's  kingdom  is  supreme.  He  is 
over  all  God  blessed  for  ever.  There  is  no 
principality  over  him.  His  kingdom  is  not  a 
wheel  within  another  wheel,  an  imperium  in 
imperio  ;  but  it  is  so  exalted  that  there  is 
nothing  above  it, 

G.  It  is  stable.  Nothing  can  shake  it. 
Many  n  bold  conspiracy  has  been  formed 
against  it,  but  all  in  vain.  Worms  cannot 
spit  their  venom  so  as  to  reach  the  stars  in 


172      THE  EOCK  OF  OUE  SALVATION. 

their  course.  Nor  can  puny  mortals  reach  the 
person  or  the  power  of  our  Immanuel. 

1.  Christ's  kingdom  is  full  of  energy.  By 
his  own  divine  efficiency  he  carries  on  his 
government.  He  upholds  all  things  by  his 
powerful  word.  He  does  his  will  in  heaven 
and  in  earth.  He  is  expecting  till  his  ene- 
mies become  his  footstool.  Not  an  empire 
rises  or  sinks  but  by  his  will.  Not  a  sparrow 
falls  to  the  ground  without  his  notice.  Every 
change  on  earth  is  by  his  providence.  He 
is  subverting  wicked  counsels  and  defeating 
wicked  plots,  till  he  shall  have  done,  his  whole 
pleasure  upon  Mount  Zion. 

His  work  on  his  people  is  mighty.  He 
subdues  them  to  himself.  By  love,  by  power, 
by  truth,  by  chastisement,  by  terrible  things 
in  righteousness,  in  mercy,  in  judgment,  in 
faithfulness,  in  loving  kindness,  he  reigns  their 
Lord  and  Master.  He  chains  their  great 
adversary ;  he  subdues  their  iniquities  under 
them ;  he  strips  the  world  of  its  fatal  fascina- 
tions ;  he  makes  them  willing  in  the  day  of  his 
power ;  he  leads  them  into  all  necessary  truth. 
A  joyful  allegiance  to  Christ  is  a  great  ele- 
ment of  true  piety. 

8.  His  kingdom  is  and  perhaps  ever  will 


CHRIST  A  KING.  173 

be  above  human  comprehension.  "God  mani- 
fest in  the  flesh"  is  the  mystery  of  mysteries. 
"When  Christ  is  about  to  do  his  greatest  won- 
ders, both  of  judgment  and  of  mercy,  he  often 
gives  no  such  notice  as  arrests  attention. 
The  kingdom  of  God  cometh  not  with  obser- 
vation. The  Lord  comes  suddenly  to  his  tem- 
ple. He  doeth  mighty  things  which  we  look 
not  for.  When  we  are  shut  up  and  cannot 
come  forth,  then  he  brings  us  out  into  a 
large  place.  When  he  turns  our  captivity,  we 
are  like  them  that  dream.  The  resurrection 
of  Christ,  .his  ascension  to  heaven,  the  mira- 
cles of  Pentecost,  the  release  of  Peter,  the 
conversion  of  Paul  surprised  both  good  and 
bad  men.  It  shall  be  so  to  the  end  of  time. 
The  judgment  day  itself  will  abound  with 
wonders,  beyond  all  the  days  of  earth.  One 
great  mystery  is  that  both  w4e  and  the  Captain 
of  our  salvation  are  "made  perfect  through 
suffering."  Strange  that  he  should  scourge 
every  son  whom  he  receiveth;  but  so  runs  his 
counsel,  and  so  we  become  partakers  of  the 
Divine  nature. 

Sometimes  to  us  his  delays  are  unaccount- 
able, and  we  cry  out,  "0  Lord,  how  long? 
Why  tarry  thy  eliariot  wheels?    Why  do  the 


174     THI  >I  OtXB  s.vi.v  \ 

wicked  pro*  Why  are  v,  |  |  full 

cup  wrong  out  to  thy  chosen  ones?"     Bui 

[hat  with   the   Lord  one  day 
thousand  years,  and  a  thousand  \ 

nhabiteth  eternity.     His  pr 
are  bounded  by  no  horizon.     His  delays 
punish  are  stupendous  mercies.    Without  then 
no  flesh  would  be  spa  rod. 

1.   Let  08  put  our  hand  into  our  Saviour's 
hand  to  lead  us  as  he  will.     A  child  of  t 

-ick.     She  had  suffered  long  and 
She  was  asked  whether  mid 

not  prefer  death  to  life,     uJust  as  the  I 
was  her  reply.    ••  l>ut,"  said  i 
I  should  refer  it  to  ild  you 

ehoo  She  Replied:  "Then  I  would  refer  it 

baek  again  to  God."    Bhe 

Should  we,  settle  such  a  question 
would  almost  certainly  be  decided  wrong. 
the  Master  determines  it  there  will  be  no  n 
take  when  we  wholly  submit  our 

will  to  his  will  his  will  be  and  so 

God  has  1. 
When  that  which  pi  ie  Lord  pic. 

nothing  can  take  away  our  rejoicing.      Much 
of  the  bliss  of  heaven  consist  <  in  this  ha] 


CHRIST  A  KING.  175 

temper.  No  doubt  things  are  constantly  oc- 
curring in  the  realms  above  which  would  pro- 
voke resistance  and  rebellion  in  hearts  not 
taught  perfect  submission  to  the  will  of  God. 
The  demand  for  hearty  acquiescence  is  most 

sonable,  because  the  Lord  is  unerring.  It 
he  were  ever  unkind,  if  he  were  unwise,  if  he 
were  feeble,  we  might  hesitate.  But  he  is  too 
good,  too  perfect  to  be  doubted. 

2.  The  church  is  safe.  The  gates  of  hell 
shall  not  prevail  against  her.  She  enjoys  her 
Monarch's  love  and  her  Monarch's  care.  Jesus 
lives  and  reigns  for  ever!  To  all  believers  we 
may  boldly  say,  "  Who  shall  harm  you,  if  ye 
be  followers  of  that  which  is  good?"  The 
solution  of  a  good  man's  perplexities,  and  the 
quelling  of  his  fears,  can  often  be  had  by 
remembering  that  our  Saviour's  throne  is  the 
throne  of  God,  and  that  his  ways  are  the  v 
of  God.  lie  giveth  account  of  none  of  his 
matters.  The  Lord  our  God  in  the  midst  of 
us  is  mighty,  mighty  to  save  all  who  take  ref- 
uge in  him,  mighty  to  destroy  all  who  dare 
/ion.  Christ's  kingly  office  is 
made  illustrious  iii  bringing  pood  out  of  evil, 

light  out  of  darkness,  and  joy  out  of  sorrow. 
When  the  unhappy  Dr.  Dodd  was  on  his  way 


170       'J  I     OUJi  *A 

to  execution,  a  brutish  man  came  and  tauc 
him  as  a  culprit,  though  a  minister  of  I 
j>"J.    IJ<:  bad  indeed  committed  t  crime, 

but  there  is  some  reason  to  hope  that  he 

tie  penitent   In  his  anguish,  heightened  by 
the  gA26  Of  the  multitude  and  the  reproa< 
oft;  ::  be  quoted  those  memora- 

ble irhicb  the  prophet  Micah  put  into 

the  montb  of  the  church  :  li  Rejoice  not  against 

0  mine  enemy;  when  I  Call,  J  shall  ari 
in  darkness,  the  Lord  shall  b 
light  unto  me,     I  wij]  bear  the  indignation  of 
the  Lord,  because  J  have  sinned  aj  turn, 

until  he  plead  myeau.se,  and  execute  judgment 
lot  me  ;  he  will  bring  me  forth  to  the  light, 
and    I   shall    he-hold  his   Bghteo  '     The 

gloomy  procession  moved  on,  the  crowd  be- 
coming more  dense,  until  al  who 
had  used  the  reproach  wj  the 

h   and  perished,  though   no  one  intended 

him  evil.    Thus  were  fulfilled  the  word   of  the 

very  next  verse,  whieh  Dodd  had  not  quoted  : 

"He  that  is  mine  enemy  .  .  .  shall  be  trodden 
down  as  the  dKre  of  the  Chrii 

the  Prince  of  the  kings  of  the  earth. 

We  greatly  mi  at  the  church, 

and  Christ  also,  when  we  teach  that  hi 


CHRIST  A  KING.  177 

dom  is  of  this  world,  that  the  weapons  of  her 
Warfare  are  carnal,  that  the  linen  white  and 
clean  of  her  members  can  be  trailed  in  the 
mire  of  this  world's  maxims,  usages,  and  pol- 
icy, without  being  defiled.  There  is  no  risk  in 
asserting  that  the  cause  of  Christ  has  been 
more  injured  by  being  represented  so  as  to 
sanction  the  vices  and  crimes  and  follies  of 
iiini,  than  by  all  the  fires  of  persecution  ever 
kindled.  The  great  error  of  the  Jews  respect- 
ing Messiah's  kingdom  was  that  it  was  of  this 
world.  His  own  followers  labored  under  this 
error  for  a  long  time.  They  said,  "  Lord 
wilt  thou  at  this  time  restore  the  kingdom  to 
Israel 

4.  Let  all  who  are  yet  out  of  Christ,  be 
reconciled  to  him  now  while  it  is  called  to- 
day.    He  has  a  right  to  your  highest  homage. 
He    is  your  rightful  sovereign.     Out  of  him 
you  are  undone.     He  has  come  and  is  calling 
you.     Will  you  accept  his  grace?"     He 
done  more  for  you  than  all  your  earthly 
ids  united.     He  offers  you  the  life  that 
and  that  which  is  to  come.     Oh  that 
you  would  be  wiaet  wise  for  yourself,   v. 

wise  for  etertiity.     "Kiss  the 
lest  he  be  angry,  and  ye  perish  from 
8* 


178      THE  ROOK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

the  way  when   his  wrath   is   kindled  but  a 
little." 

now  unto  the  klng  eternal,  immortal, 
invisible,  the  only  wise  god  our  saviour, 
be  honor  and  glory  for  ever  and  ever. 
Amen. 


CHRIST'S  HUMILIATION.  179 

CHAPTEE  X. 

CHRIST'S  HUMILIATION. 

Some  distinguish  between  Christ's  conde- 

• 

scension  in  assuming  our  nature,  and  his 
humiliation  in  suffering.  But  the  distinction 
is  useless.  God  "humbleth  himself  to  behold 
the  things  that  are  in  heaven  and  in  the 
earth."  Ps.  113  :  6.  Surely  then  he  humbled 
himself  when  he  became  incarnate.  This  has 
already  been  considered. 

Respecting  the  humiliation  of  the  Saviour, 
the  language  of  Scripture  is  strong:  "He 
made  himself  of  no  reputation  [literally,  he 
emptiecP  himself]  and  took  upon  him  the  form 
of  a  servant,  and  was  made  in  the  likeness 
of  men :  and  being  found  in  fashion  [form  or 
figure]  as  a  man,  he  humbled  himself,  and 
became  obedient  unto  death,  even  the  death 
of  the  cross."  This  is  an  outline  of  our  Lord's 
humiliation,  which  has  long  been  and  will  for 
ever  be  the  wonder  and  the  song  of  angels 
and  redeemed  men.  The  whole  of  our  Lord's 
history  on  earth  was  one  series  of  acts  of  self- 
emptying  and  humiliation. 


180      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

Let  us  begin  with  the  humble  circumstan- 
ces in  which  he  came  into  the  world.  The 
husband  of  his  mother  was  an  artisan,  com- 
monly supposed  to  be  a  carpenter.  Matt. 
13  :  55.  Both  he  and  the  mother  of  our  Lord 
were  descended  from  David.  Luke  2  : 4.  But 
tins  family  was  fallen  so  low  that  when 
Joseph  and  Mary  arrived  in  Bethlehem  their 
descent  from  David  secured  them  no  atten- 
tions or  civilities,  but  they  wTere  lodged  in 
a  house  built  for  cattle.  There  the  mother 
of  our  Lord  brought  forth  her  child,  and 
wrapped  him  in  swaddling  clothes,  and  laid 
him  in  a  manger,  because  there  was  no  room 
in  the  inn.  Luke  2  :7.  And  when  she  brought 
him  to  present  him  to  the  Lord,  her  offering 
was  that  of  the  poorest,  "a  pair  of  turtle- 
doves or  two  young  pigeons."  The  law  of 
Moses  admitted  that  offering  for  those  who 
were  "  not  able  to  bring  a  lamb.'7  Lev.  12  : 8. 
Thus  the  most  highly  favored  among  women 
was  found  in  the  depths  of  poverty  and  in 
great  neglect.  Her  first-born  shared  her  lot. 
I  have  heard  of  but  one  child  born  in  a  stable. 
That  was  the  holy  child  Jesus. 

At  his  birth  our  Lord  had  all  the  weak- 
ness of  infancy.     He  was  helpless  and  de- 


CHRIST'S  HUMILIATION.  181 

pendent  like  other  children.  The  inspired 
history  tells  us  that  he  "increased  in  wisdom 
and  stature,  and  in  favor  with  God  and  man.''* 
Lukr  2:62.     He  had  the  trials  of  childhood. 

No  sooner  was  his  birth  known  than  Herod 
the  Great,  a  cruel  and  bloody  man,  became 
intent  on  his  death.  He  killed  all  the  young 
children  in  one  district  of  the  land  in  the 
hope  that  he  would  thereby  surely  destroy 
Jesus.  By  timely  warning  from  God  that 
infant  Saviour  was  rescued  from  the  threat- 
ened evil  j  but  only  by  flight  into  Egypt — 
Egypt,  the  "Rahab"  and  "Leviathan"  of 
Scripture.  The  cruel,  idolatrous,  and  degra- 
ded people  of  that  land  had  a  hereditary 
and  inveterate  hatred  against  the  Jews;  but 
n<»\v  their  country  was  a  safer  asylum  to -this 
blessed  family  than  any  city  or  village  of 
Judea. 

On  their  return  from  Egypt,  they  settled 
in  Nazareth.  By  some  means  this  place  had 
been  rendered  odious.  Even  the  guileless 
Xatlianael  shared  in  the  common  aversion, 
and  cried,  "( Ian  there  any  good  thing  come  out 
of  Nazareth?"  John  1 :  46.  Here  Jesus  spent 
the  most  of  hie  life  till  he  was  thirty  years  old. 
Nazareth  is  not  once  mentioned  in  the  Old 


182      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

Testament,  nor  by  Josephus.  Prophecy  said 
that  Christ  should  be  "  despised  and  rejected 
of  men."  This  was  the  same  as  saying  he 
should  be  called  "a  Nazarene."  Compare  Isa. 
53  : 3  and  Matt.  2 :  23.  Nazareth  was  probably 
infamous  for  the  fierceness  and  brutality  of  its 
people.  Luke  4  :  16-30.  It  was  not  the  seat 
of  any  famous  school.  As  a  place  of  residence 
it  had  the  advantage  of  privacy ;  and  its  geo- 
graphical position  was  truly  beautiful.  Here 
our  Lord  lived  and  wrought  at  the  same  craft 
as  Joseph,  for  his  own  countrymen  said,  "Is 
not  this  the  carpenter,  the  son  of  Mary?" 
Mark  6:3.  If  there  was  any  school  at  Naza- 
reth, Jesus  does  not  seem  to  have  attended  it; 
for  the  Jews  said,  "How  knoweth  this  man 
letters,  having  never  learned?"  John  7 :15. 
Another  part  of  Christ's  humiliation  con- 
sisted in  his  being  tempted.  Heb.  2:18;  4:15. 
True,  the  prince  of  this  world  found  nothing 
in  him.  John  14 :  30.  In  his  holy  soul  was  no 
fuel  to  be  kindled  by  the  fiery  darts ;  but  it 
must  have  filled  him  with  anguish  to  have  so 
foul  suggestions  made  to  him.  So  far  as  we 
know,  his  first  great  conflict  with  the  adver- 
sary was  in  the  wilderness.  It  lasted  forty 
days.    Luke  4:2.     Christ  was  about  to  enter 


CHRIST'S  HUMILIATION.  183 

on  his  public  ministry,  and  retired  to  the  wil- 
derness under  the  best  desires  to  commune 
with  God.  But  Satan  annoyed  him  continu- 
ally. The  temptation  grew  worse  and  worse 
to  the  close.  The  adversary  then  tempted 
him  to  use  his  miraculous  power  to  prove  his 
divinity  to  Satan,  and  to  satisfy  his  own  hun- 
ger, as  he  had  eaten  nothing  for  forty  days. 
The  wicked  one  also  tempted  him  to  an  act  of 
presumption  by  throwing  himself  from  the  pin- 
nacle of  the  temple.  Finally,  he  offered  him 
immense  possessions  and  great  honors,  the 
kingdoms  of  the  world  and  the  glory  of  them, 
if  he  wrould  commit  one  act  of  idolatry.  It 
added  not  a  little  to  the  power  of  these  beset- 
ments  that  they  were  urged  on  Christ  in  his 
solitude.  Although  each  assault  was  an  utter 
failure,  yet  the  devil  departed  from  him  but 
for  a  season.  Luke  4:13.  The  Saviour  was 
tempted  in  all  points  like  as  we  are,  yet  with- 
out sin. 

As  Jesus  was  born,  so  he  lived  and  died 
poor.  He  said,  "The  foxes  have  holes,  and 
the  birds  of  the  air  have  nests :  but  the  Son  of 
man  hath  not  where  to  lay  his  head."  Matt. 
8  :  20.  During  his  ministry  he  seems  to  have 
chiefly  subsisted  upon  the   charity  of  some 


184      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

poor,  pious  women.  Well  did  he  know  what 
it  was  to  suffer  hunger  and  want.  When  a 
capitation  tax  was  demanded  of  him,  though 
it  was  but  half  a  crown  for  himself  and  Peter, 
he  could  not  pay  it  without  a  miracle. 

Another  element  of  Christ's  humiliation 
was  his  liability  to  affliction.  Above  all  that 
ever  lived  he  was  the  "  man  of  sorrows."  He 
was  subject  to  disappointment,  grief,  vexa- 
tion, a  sense  of  wrong,  a  sense  of  the  ingrati- 
tude of  men,  and  the  pangs  arising  from  a  dis- 
regard of  all  the  principles  of  friendship.  His 
holy  soul  was  filled  with  anguish  by  his  cruel 
rejection.  "He  was  in  the  world,  and  the 
world  was  made  by  him,  and  the  world  knew 
him  not.  He  came  unto  his  own,  and  his  own 
received  him  not."  John  1 :  10,  11.  None  of 
the  princes  of  this  world  knew  him.  1  Cor.  2  : 8. 
' '  We  hid  as  it  were  our  faces  from  him ;  .  .  . 
we  esteemed  him  not.7'  Isa.  53  :  3.  Those 
countless  annoyances,  called  slights,  must 
have  pierced  him  deeply.  The  people  of  the 
city  where  he  had  been  brought  up  were  so 
offended  at  his  first  sermon  in  their  syna- 
gogue, that  they  attempted  to  destroy  his  life 
by  casting  him  down  from  a  high  rock.  Luke 
4:16-30.     And  when  he  claimed  existence 


CHKIST'S  HUMILIATION.  185 

prior  to  Abraham,  the  Jews  took  up  stones  to 
cast  at  him.  John  8  :  59.  For  saving  two 
men  from  the  most  frighful  torments,  followed 
by  the  loss  of  some  swine,  the  whole  city  of 
the  Gergesenes  "besought  him  that  he  would 
depart  out  of  their  coasts."  They  preferred 
their  swine,  madmen,  and  devils,  to  the  Prince 
of  Peace.  Matt.  8  :  34.  Afterwards,  on  his 
trial,  the  Jews  cried,  "Away  with  him;  away 
with  him."  John  19: 15.  They  preferred  to 
have  a  murderer  tu/ned  loose  on  their  com- 
munity, rather  than  that  the  Son  of  God 
should  longer  teach  his  heavenly  doctrines. 
Their  cry  was,  "Not  this  man,  but  Barabbas." 
During  his  whole  ministry  the  leaders  among 
hifi  foes  denied  that  God  had  sent  him.  John 
10:24-26.  Never  was  mission  so  well  attest- 
ed. Never  were  attestations  so  malignantly 
set  aside 

And  never  were  hard  names  and  oppro- 
brious epithets  so  heaped  upon  any  one.  His 
enemies  said  he' was  a  deceiver,  John  7:12; 
gluttonous  and  a  wincbibber,  a  friend  of  pub- 
licans and  sinners,  Matt.  11:19.  They  said 
he  was  in  league  with  the  prince  of  the  dev- 
ils, and  that  by  Satanic  power  he  wrought 
miracles.     Surely  above   all   others   he   en- 


186      THE  BOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

dured  the  contradiction  of  sinners  against 
himself.  Heb.  12:3.  Nor  were  these  things 
without  their  dreadful  effects  on  his  refined 
and  tender  nature.  "  His  visage  was  so 
marred  more  than  any  man,  and  his  form 
more  than  the  sons  of  men."  Speaking  in  his 
name  the  prophet  said,  "Reproach  hath  bro- 
ken my  heart ;  and  I  am  full  of  heaviness  ; 
and  I  looked  for  some  to  take  pity,  but  there 
was  none  ;  and  for  comforters,  but  I  found 
none."  Ps.  69  :  20.  Th#  same  prophet  had 
elsewhere  said  in  his  name,  "I  am  a  worm, 
and  no  man ;  a  reproach  of  men,  and  despised 
of  the  people.  All  they  that  see  me  laugh 
me  to  scorn  ;  they  shoot  out  the  lip,  they 
shake  the  head."     Ps.  22  :  6,  7. 

The  annals  oj*  our  race  furnish  no  parallel 
to  his  history  in  the  want  of  sympathy  under 
amazing  sufferings.  No  terms  of  derision,  no 
taunts  in  the  midst  of  his  agonies  were  by  his 
enemies  deemed  indecent.  Matt.  27  :  40-43. 
In  his  greatest  trial,  when  he  most  needed  the 
offices  of  friendship,  his  "disciples  forsook 
him  and  fled."  Matt.  26 :  56.  The  very  bold- 
est of  all  his  followers  denied  him  thrice,  and 
even  with  oaths  and  curses.  Mark  14  :  71. 
Never  by  countenance  did  friend  express  such 


CHRIST'S  HUMILIATION.  187 

surprise,  regret,  and  reproof,  as  when  Christ 
looked  on  Peter  after  the  cock  crew. 

He  was  not  only  denied  by  one  disciple  ; 
he  was  betrayed  by  another  in  a  manner  full 
of  base  hypocrisy,  even  with  a  kiss.  The  gen- 
eral motive  for  his  betrayal  was  the  depravity 
of  Judas.  The  special  motive  was  covetous- 
ness.  Yet  the  son  of  perdition  sold  him  for  the 
paltry  sum  of  thirty  pieces  of  silver,  the  amount 
fixed  by  the  law  of  Moses  as  the  price  of  a 
slave,  to  be  paid  to  his  owner  if  his  death  had 
been  brought  about  by  the  goring  of  a  neigh- 
bor's ox.  Ex.  21 :32.  In  prophetically  speak- 
ing of  this  sum,  Zechariah  ironically  calls  it  a 
goodly  price.  He  cast  the  amount  in  scorn  to  the 
1  totter  in  the  house  of  the  Lord.     Zech.ll  :13. 

Another  element  in  our  Lord's  humiliation 
was  the  character  of  the  testimony  on  his  trial. 
The  witnesses  were  all  suborned.  The  Jews 
"sought  false  witness  against  Jesus  to  put 
him  to  death,  but  found  none,  yea,  though 
many  false  witnesses  came,  yet  found  they 
none."  Matt  26  :  59,  GO.  That  is,  the  law 
required  two  concurring  witnesses,  and  they 
found  not  two  who  agreed.  "At  the  last  came 
two  false  witnesses,  and  said,  This  fellow  said, 
I  am  able  to  destroy  the  temple  of  God,  and 


188      THE  EOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

to  build  it  in  three  days."  Matt.  26  :  60,  61. 
These  witnesses  lied,  for  they  had  not  heard 
him  say  any  thing  about  destroying  the  tem- 
ple, and  what  he  did  say  was  quite  unlike 
what  they  alleged.  "  Destroy  this  temple," 
(i.  e.,  kill  this  body,)  "and  in  three  days  I 
will  raise  it  up."  John  2  :  19.  The  thing 
charged  was  absurd  and  frivolous  as  well  as 
false.  No  wonder  Jesus  held  his  peace  and 
answered  nothing.  The  Jews  evidently  felt 
that  they  had  made  good  no  serious  charge  ; 
for  they  tried  to  get  from  him  a  confession 
that  he  was  the  Christ,  the  Son  of  the  Blessed. 
Our  Lord  felt  it  was  a  right  time  to  speak, 
whereupon  he  made  that  "good  confession," 
so  precious  in  the  church  ever  since.  He  said 
he  was  the  Christ. 

The  course  of  the  judge  who  sat  on  his 
trial,  while  it  was  a  disgrace  to  himself,  was  a 
deep  humiliation  to  Jesus.  If  history  can  be 
trusted,  Pilate  was  a  monster  of  perfidy,  ava- 
rice, cruelty,  and  obstinacy.  Previously  he 
had  fallen  on  some  poor  Galileans  and  butch- 
ered them  while  they  were  making  their  pre- 
scribed offerings,  thus  mingling  their  blood 
with  their  sacrifices.  Luke  13:1.  No  de- 
cency of  life,  no  solemnity  of  religion  could 


CHRIST'S  HUMILIATION.  189 

restrain  him.  Over  and  over  again  did  he 
confess  that  Jesus  had  violated  no  law,  had 
committed  no  offence.  His  wife  warned  him 
to  do  nothing  against  that  just  person.  He 
knew  that  the  chief  priests  had  delivered  him 
up  for  envy.  He  was  afraid  that  he  would  lose 
his  place  if  he  did  not  give  sentence  against 
Jesus.  Instead  of  abiding  by  his  own  clear 
convictions,  he  turned  to  the  malignant  ene- 
mies of  the  innocent  sufferer  before  him  and 
asked  them  what  the  sentence  should  be. 
Compare  Matt,  27  :  18, 19,  24,  and  John  19:12- 
16.  Before  yielding  to  the  violence  of  the 
mob  around  the  judgment-seat,  this  merce- 
nary and  vacillating  creature  made  a  feeble 
effort  to  convince  the  Jews  that  the  prisoner 
before  him  ought  not  to  die,  saying,  "  Why, 
what  evil  hath  he  done?"  Matt.  27  :  23.  •  This 
failing,  he  thought  to  save  his  popularity  and 
the  life  of  Jesus  by  working  on  their  sympa- 
thies. So  he  delivered  Christ  over  to  be 
irged.  This  was  a  dreadful  infliction.  The 
ba<k  was  made  bare,  the  arms  were  drawn  up, 
the  scourge  was  applied  first  with  the  right 
hand  and  then  with  the  left.  At  the  shocking 
t  men  often  grew  faint.  All  this  had  been 
predicted   by   the   evangelical .  prophet :    "I 


190      THE  KOCK  OF  OUB  SALVATION. 

gave  my  back  to  the  smiters,  and  my  cheeks 
to  them  that  plucked  off  the  hair:  I  hid  not 
my  face  from  shame  and  spitting."  Isa.  50  :6. 
But  all  this  had  no  effect  in  appeasing  the 
rage  of  the  malignant  throng.  Nor  did  it 
strengthen  any  just  purpose  in  the  bosom  of 
the  judge.  So  he  delivered  his  guiltless  vic- 
tim to  be  crucified.  Matt.  27  :  26.  It  is  often 
asked,  What  became  of  Pilate  ?  His  murder 
of  the  Galileans  and  like  acts  of  violence  would 
probably  have  caused  his  dismissal,  had  not 
Tiberius  died.  He  however  fell  under  the 
displeasure  of  the  successor  of  that  emperor, 
was  degraded  from  office,  became  a  wretched 
outcast,  and  ended  his  days  by  committing 
suicide. 

As  the  form  of  trial  granted  to  Jesus  was 
a  mockery  of  all  justice  and  decency,  so  mock- 
ery was  kept  up  to  the  last.  They  spit  in  his 
face  and  buffeted  him.  Others  smote  him  with 
the  palms  of  their  hands,  and  asked  him,  Who 
is  he  that  smote  thee  ?  They  stripped  him, 
and  put  on  him  a  scarlet  robe,  as  though  he 
were  a  royal  personage.  But  all  was  in  de- 
rision. And  when  they  had  platted  a  crown 
of  thorns,  they  put  it  upon  his  head,  and  a 
reed  in  his  right  hand  :  and  they  bowed  the 


CHRIST'S  HUMILIATION.  191 

knee  before  him,  and  mocked  him,  saying, 
Hail,  King  of  the  Jews !  And  they  spit  upon 
him,  and  took  the  reed  and  smote  him  on  the 
head.  And  after  they  had  mocked  him,  they 
took  the  robe  off  from  him,  and  put  his  own 
raiment  on  him,  and  led  him  away  to  crucify 
him.     Matt.  26  :  67  ;  27  :  28,  29. 

It  would  be  wonderful  indeed  if  so  long 
and  sleepless  sorrow,  such  scourging  and  smi- 
ting, had  not  much  exhausted  his  strength. 
And  so  we  find  it.#  At  first  by  their  bidding 
he  bare  his  own  cross,  John  19 :  17 ;  but,  as 
is  supposed,  growing  faint  ufider  it,  he  could 
bear  it  no  farther.  They  met  a  man  of  Cyrene, 
Billion  by  name.  Matthew  says  they  com- 
pelled him  to  bear  the  cross.  Luke  says  they 
laid  the  cross  on  him  that  he  might  bear  it 
Jesus.  Compare  Matt.  27  :  32  and  Luke 
23 :26.  Who  this  Simon  was,  friend  or  foe,  or 
how  he  felt  on  the  sad  occasion,  is  not  cer- 
tain ;  but  lie  was  probably  suspected  of  lean- 
ing to  the  cause  of  Christ.  It  is  not  certain 
whether  he  bore  the  whole  cross  or  only  the 
hinder  part  of  it. 

A-  the  procession  advanced,  there  followed 
li i in  a  great  company  of  people,  and  of  women 
which  also  bewailed  and  lamented  him.     But 


192      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

Jesus,  knowing  he  should  soon  be  through 
his  troubles,  and  seeing  the  glory  that  should 
follow,  turning  to  them,  said,  Weep  not  for 
me,  but  weep  for  yourselves  and  your  chil- 
dren. He  then  foretold  the  awful  doom  of 
the  holy  city.     Luke  23:27-31. 

Reaching  the  dreadful  spot,  Jesus  was  again 
stripped,  and  nailed  to  the  cross.  Truly  this 
was  the  hour  of  darkness.  A  few  days  before 
the  Son  of  God  was  in  tears.  The  night  be- 
fore he  had  been  in  bloody^sweat.  Now  he  is 
on  the  cross,  receiving  at  the  hands  of  men  a 
punishment  reserved  for  the  worst  criminals, 
and  those  slaves.  Some  think  hanging  on  the 
cross  produced  dislocation.  So  they  under- 
stand that  phrase,  "  All  my  bones  are  out  of 
joint,"  Psalm  22:14.  Others  think  it  is  fig- 
urative language,  descriptive  of  dreadful  ag- 
ony, as  if  all  the  bones  were  dislocated.  Per- 
haps this  is  the  more  probable  view.  The 
theory  of  death  by  crucifixion  was  the  extinc- 
tion of  life,  not  by  strangulation,  nor  by  loss 
of  blood,  but  by  nervous  distress.  The  ex- 
tremities, the  seat  of  very  tender  sensation, 
were  wounded  and  lacerated.  The  distortions 
of  the  frame  were  dreadful.  The  sufferer  was 
confined  to  one  position,  itself  great  torture, 


CHKIST'S  HUMILIATION.  193 

if  long  continued.  One  may  read  the  history 
of  crucifixion  until  his  feelings  are  petrified. 
The  details  are  indeed  lacerating.  No  doubt 
a  graphic  description  of  them  in  a  large  assem- 
bly would  make  many  swoon  away.  But  the 
object  of  this  chapter  is  not  to  harrow  up  sen- 
sibilities, but  to  show  how  Jesus  humbled  him- 
self, and  became  obedient  unto  death,  even 
the  death  of  the  cross. 

Wondrous  cross  !  Wondrous  tree  !  The 
human  mind,  ever  prone  to  superstition,  has 
sought,  and  claims  to  have  found,  more  wood 
belonging  to  our  Saviour's  cross  than  is  found 
in  one  of  our  large  edifices.  But  the  efficacy 
of  the  cross  is  not  in  the  wood,  but  in  the 
blood  shed  by  him  who  hung  upon  it.  Pious 
minds  must  have  experienced  sensible  relief 
when  the  first  Christian  emperor,  considering 
the  horrible  nature  of  the  torture,  and  wishing 
to  put  honor  on  the  death  of  Christ,  abolished 
punishment  by  crucifixion. 

Every  death  by  the  cross  was  shameful. 
That  of  our  Lord  was  peculiarly  so.  He  was 
crucified  between  two  thieves,  and  with  every 
mark  of  Ignominy. 

Such  was  the  agony  of  death  by  the  cross 
that,  as  a  matter  of  humanity,  it  seems  to  have 


194      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

been  customary  to  administer  some  powerful 
narcotic  to  produce  insensibility.  "Wine 
mingled  with  myrrh "  was  offered  to  our  Sav- 
iour, but  he  "received  it  not."  Mark  15:23. 
He  drew  his  solace  from  another  source. 
As  he  had  despised  their  reproaches  and 
cruelties,  so  he  contemned  their  proffered 
stupefying  cup.  Christ  would  end  his  days 
with  an  unclouded  intellect.  He  would  not 
leave  the  world  in  voluntary  stupor.  Yet 
even  the  offer  of  wine  mingled  with  myrrh 
was  soon  followed  by  renewed  derision.  Matt. 
27:42,  43. 

The  death  of  the  cross  is  often  called 
accursed.  It  was  so  indeed.  Paul  says  : 
"It  is  written,  Cursed  is  every  one  that  hang- 
eth  on  a  tree."  Gal.  3  :13.  He  refers  to  Deu- 
teronomy 21:22,  23:  "  If  a  man  have  com- 
mitted a  sin  worthy  of  death,  and  he  be  to  be 
put  to  death,  and  thou  hang  him  on  a  tree, 
his  body  shall  not  remain  all  night  upon  the 
tree,  but  thou  shalt  in  any  wise  bury  him  that 
day  (for  he  that  is  hanged  is  accursed  of  God) 
that  thy  land  be  not  defiled  which  the  Lord 
thy  G-od  giveth  thee  for  an  inheritance." 
These  texts  do  not  teach  that  eternal  misery 
always  followed  this  kind  of  death.     We  know 


CHRIST'S  HUMILIATION.  195 

this  is  not  so.  The  penitent  thief  went  from 
the  cross  to  paradise. 

A  few  remarks  may  aid  us  in  understand- 
ing these  verses. 

1.  Hanging  in  any  way  has  always  been 
esteemed  odious,  gibbeting  the  dead  very 
much  so,  and  crucifixion  most- of  all.  2.  The 
Jews  contend  that  they  never  crucified  the 
living,  though  they  admit  that,  after  the  death 
of  a  vile  criminal,  they  sometimes  hung  his 
lifeless  body  on  a  tree.  Some  contend  that 
they  crucified  the  living.  Perhaps  they  did. 
See  Josh.  8  :29  ;  2  Sam.  21 : 9.  Josephus  tells 
(lib.  13,  cap.  22)  of  the  crucifixion  of  eight 
hundred  men  by  Alexander,  king  of  the  Jews. 
However  this  may  be,  the  Jews  and  all  an- 
cient nations  regarded  hanging  on  the  cross 
as  the  most  execrable  death.  3.  In  the  pas- 
sage cited  from  Deuteronomy,  God  himself 
teaches  that  whoever  is  righteously  and  ac- 
cording to  the  divine  law  delivered  over  to 
hanging,  does  therein  receive  the  curse  of 
God.  4.  So  terrible  was  this  death,  that  God 
-;ii<l  it  should  be  all  the  punishment  and  dis- 
graoe  man  should  inflict  on  any  criminal.  It 
was  "the  curse  of  God  ;"  that  is,  the  extreme 
penalty  provided  for  evil-doers  in  the  Jewish 


196      THE  BOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

commonwealth.  Accordingly,  at  sunset  the 
body  was  to  be  taken  down,  that  the  land 
might  not  be  defiled  by  scenes  which  could 
but  harden  men's  hearts.  5.  Though  the  sen- 
tence given  by  Pilate  was  wholly  unjust,  and 
though  it  was  with  wicked  hands  that  Jesus 
was  crucified  and  slain,  Acts  2:23,  yet,  as 
he  voluntarily  and  by  G-od's  approval  stood 
in  our  place,  he  bore  "  the  curse  of  the  law,'7 
not  for  his  own,  but  for  our  sins.  No  doubt 
the  Mosaic  law  pointed  to  the  death  of  Christ, 
for  above  all  that  ever  lived,  he  was  "made 
a  curse,"  though  not  for  himself,  yet  "  for  us." 
He  was  not  only  forsaken  of  men,  but  of  God. 
The  bitterest  cry  ever  heard  came  from  the 
cross:  "Eloi,  Eloi,  lama  sabachthani ?" 

JSTot  long  after,  our  Saviour  cried  with  a 
loud  voice,  and  gave  up  the  ghost.  That  he 
was  dead  the  executioners  admitted,  and  nei- 
ther friend  nor  foe  doubted.  The  water  that 
came  from  his  side  proved  that  he  was  dead 
and  cold.  But  the  Lord  of  heaven  and  earth 
had  no  sepulchre  of  his  own.  The  love  of  one 
of  his  followers  secured  him  burial.  Joseph 
of  Arimathea,  an  honorable  counsellor  and  a 
rich  man,  who  had  hitherto  shown  much  timid- 
ity, went  in  boldly  unto  Pilate  and  craved  the 


CHRIST'S  HUMILIATION.  197 

body  of  Jesus.  He  bought  fine  line.*,  and 
took  him  down,  and  wrapped  him  in  the  linen, 
and  laid  him  in  a  sepulchre  which  was  hewn 
out  of  a  rock,  and  rolled  a  stone  unto  the  door 
of  the  sepulchre.  Mark  15:43,  46.  Here  the 
Lord  lay  surrounded  by  a  strong  guard  of 
Roman  soldiers. 

This  was  the  end  of  his  humiliation ;  for 
that  clause  in  the  Apostles'  Creed  which  says, 
"He  descended  into  hell,"  means  no  more 
than  that  his  body  was  under  the  power  of 
death,  and  that  his  soul  was  in  the  invisible 
world.  That  our  Lord's  soul  was  not  in  tor- 
ment after  his  death  is  certain,  for  he  said  to 
the  penitent  thief,  "This  day  shalt  thou  be 
with  me  in  paradise  ;"  and  paradise  is  a  place 
of  bliss. 

1.  Why  should  we  be  in  love  with  this 
world?  It  reviled,  maligned,  and  crucified 
the  Lord  of  life  and  glory.  It  deserves  not 
our  confidence  or  our  love. 

2.  Let  us  not  make  much  ado  about  our 
<ii!] -rings.  Our  Master  fared  far  worse.  If 
personal  innocence  and  unswerving  benevo- 
lence could  screen  any  one,  our  Lord  had 
never  met  a  rebuff 


198      THE  KOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

3.  Let  us  not  be  afraid  of  humiliation.  In 
the  end  it  will  do  us'  no  harm.  It  is  the  high- 
way to  glory.  If  we  would  be  very  high,  let 
us  know  the  fellowship  of  Christ's  sufferings, 
and  be  made  conformable  unto  his  death. 
Phil.  3:10.  If  we  would  reign  with  him,  let 
us  suffer  with  him. 

4.  It  is  as  safe  as  it  is  necessary  to  trust  in 
the  divine  mercy  granted  to  sinners  through 
the  bloodshedding  of  Christ.  To  believe  in 
Christ  is  a  duty,  is  wisdom,  is  eternal  life. 


VIEWS  OF  CHRIST'S  WORK,  199 

CHAPTEE  XI. 

GENERAL  VIEWS  OF  CHRIST'S  WORK. 

It  is  common  to  many  languages  to  put 
a  part  for  the  whole.  The  sacred  writings 
abound  in  this  figure.  The  whole  nation  of 
Israel  is  called  Jacob.  The  law  often  signi- 
fies the  whole  Mosaic  dispensation.  The  death 
of  Christ,  or  the  cross  of  Christ,  is  a  term  to 
denote  the  whole  system  of  gospel  truth.  The 
fear  of  God  and  the  love  of  God  are  used  to 
express  the  whole  of  religion.  So  when  the 
apostle  says,  "We  preach  Christ  crucified," 
he  intends  to  say  that  he  and  his  co-workers 
set  forth  the  whole  of  the  gospel,  giving  a  just 
prominence  to  the  great  fact  of  the  sacrificial 
death  of  our  Lord. 

As  preliminary  to  this  discussion  it  may  be 
observed : 

1.  Unless  man  is  a  sinner,  he  needs  no 
other  good  news  than  that  God  is  just.  The 
whole  need  not  a  physician.  The  innocent 
require  no  pardon.  The  holy  need  no  change 
of  heart  In  the  righteous  there  is  no  room 
for  remission.     It  is  the  lost  who  need  a  Sav- 


200      THE  BOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

iour.  Whoever  denies  his  guilt  rejects  Christ. 
Let  the  Governor  tender  pardons  where  guilt 
has  been  proven ;  let  him  not  insult  the  virtu- 
ous by  an  offer  to  remit  the  penalty  for  crime 
of  which  even  the  suspicion  of  guilt  is  a  great 
wrong. 

2.  A  full  and  thorough  conviction  that  we 
are  sinners  is  both  right  and  useful.  A  vague 
and  general  suspicion  of  guilt  will  hardly  lead 
any  one  to  embrace  the  gospel.  Whenever 
one  feels  that  he  is  wrongfully  accused,  and  is 
fully  conscious  of  innocence,  he  asks  no  relax- 
ation of  legal  rigor.  All  he  desires  is  sheer 
justice. 

3.  The  gospel  is  rendered  null  and  void  as 
to  any  saving  efficacy  in  regard  to  all  men 
who  refuse  to  say,  in  the  spirit  of  the  publi- 
can, "God  be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner."  Its 
morality  may  secure  to  them  respectability; 
its  civilizing  influences  may  soften  the  asperi- 
ties of  their  character  j  its  enlightening  power 
may  rescue  them  from  barbarism,  but  its  sav- 
ing influences  they  will  never  feel  while  enter- 
taining self-complacent  views  of  themselves. 
Whoever  would  be  cleansed  in  the  fountain 
opened  for  sin  and  uncleanness  must  confess 
his  guilt     Whoever  would  be  made  rich,  must 


VIEWS  OF  CHKIST'S  WOEK.  201 

own  his  poverty.  Whoever  would  be  clothed 
upon  with  the  righteousness  of  Christ,  must 
bewail  his  own  nakedness.  To  him  who  sees 
that  floods  of  tears  can  never  cover  the  moun- 
tains of  his  sins,  it  will  be  good  news  that, 
through  Christ,  God  will  cast  them  into  the 
depths  of  the  sea.  God  giveth  grace  to  the 
humble,  but  he  knoweth  the  proud  afar  off. 

4.  As  many  as  are  under  the  teachings  of 
God's  Spirit  will  always  welcome  even  a  plain 
and  familiar  explanation  of  the  plan  of  mercy 
revealed  in  the  gospel.  Wisdom  is  justified 
of  her  children.  All  others  will  wonder  and 
perish. 

5.  In  preaching  the  gospel,  nothing  is  to 
be  concealed.  It  is  at  our  peril  if  we  with- 
hold a  truth  because  it  is  offensive  to  the  car- 
nal mind.  We  may  not  even  disguise  it  or 
obscure  it  by  the  arts  of  rhetoric.  Thus  Paul 
says,  "  We  preach  Christ  crucified,  unto  the 
Jews  a  stumbling-block,  and  unto  the  Greeks 
foolishness."  Nothing  could  have  more  offend- 
ed the  prejudices  of  Jews  or  assailed  the  wis- 
dom of  Greeks  than  preaching  Christ  crucified. 
To  call  upon  them  to  believe  in  one  that  had 
been  hanged  on  a  tree  seemed  to  them  mon- 
B  t  reus.    Yet  Paul  preached  this  very  doctrine. 

9* 


202      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

He  knew  its  power.  He  says:  "Unto  them 
which  are  called,  both  Jews  and  Greeks, 
Christ"  is  "  the  power  of  God  and  the  wisdom 
of  God.7'  Nor  did  he  publish  this  vital  truth 
in  words  which  man's  wisdom  teacheth,  but  in 
words  which  the  Holy  Ghost  teacheth.  Let  us 
follow  his  excellent  example.  Let  us  not  try 
to  render  the  gospel  pleasing  to  men  by  deny- 
ing or  disguising  its  unwelcome  truths.  If  we 
could  persuade  all  men  that  Christ  was  never 
crucified,  the  work  of  salvation  would  be  at 
an  end,  the  humble  would  be  cast  into  de- 
spair, the  ignorant  be  rendered  more  brutish, 
and  the  world  return  by  not  very  slow  marches 
to  idolatry  and  atheism. 

6.  While  the  death  of  Christ  was '  the 
crowning  event  in  his  humiliation  and  an 
essential  part  of  it,  it  is  not  to  be  separated 
from  his  incarnation,  his  perfect  obedience, 
and  his  previous  sufferings.  His  whole  life 
upon  earth,  followed  by  his  death  on  the  cross, 
and  that  by  his  exaltation  at  God's  right  hand, 
must  be  taken  together. 

7.  The  salvation  of  a  sinner  in  no  sense 
depends  upon  his  fitness,  but  only  on  the  ful- 
ness of  Christ  Jesus.  If  the  gospel  makes  any 
thing  plain,  it  surely  teaches  that  we  are  saved 


VIEWS  OF  CHKIST'S  WOKK.  203 

by  grace  through  faith,  that  is  in  Christ  the 
Lord. 

With  these  explanations,  let  us  notice  sev- 
eral methods  by  which  we  often  point  to  the 
effect  of  the  death  of  Christ  in  saving  lost  men. 
The  human  mind  is  weak  and  full  of  darkness 
by  reason  of  sin.  It  is  a  mercy,  therefore, 
that  in  several  well-chosen  ways  God  makes 
this  doctrine  plain  to  our  understandings. 

I.  Sometimes  we  represent  Christ  as  taking 
our  place  j  and  so  substitution  is  the  name  by 
which  we  designate  the  glorious  plan  of  gospel 
mercy.  This  mode  of  expression  is  appropri- 
ate and  striking.  Among  men  substitution  is 
common  and  well  understood.  One  is  drafted 
into  the  army ;  his  brother  or  friend,  seeing 
the  importance  of  his  presence  at  home,  or  a 
Stranger  moved  by  pecuniary  reward,  becomes 
hi-  substitute.     When  once,  with  his  own  con- 

! ,  he  is  thus  enrolled,  he  is  bound  to  obey 
all  orders  as  if  the  lot  had  originally  fallen  on 
himself.  In  his  case,  as  in  any  other,  deser- 
tion is  severely  punished.  Substitution,  once 
admitted,  binds  in  all  its  rigor.  There  can 
be  HO  abatement  in  favor  of  him  who  volun- 
tarily consents  to  stand  in  the  place  of  another. 
When  he  has  done  all  that  the  other  was  bound 


204:      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

to  do,  and  not  before,  is  he  released.  So  Jesus 
Christ  voluntarily  became  our  substitute.  He 
took  our  place  in  the  eye  of  the  law,  and  "be- 
came obedient  unto  death."  He  perfectly  ful- 
filled all  his  engagements.  He  never  said, 
"It  is  finished,'7  until  he  had  showed  us  on 
the  cross  what  temper  he  would  have  us  exer- 
cise in  the  severest  trials,  and  until  he  had 
drunk  the  dregs  of  "  the  cup  of  astonishment" 
put  into  his  hands  by  the  offended  majesty  of 
heaven.  He  entirely  finished  the  work  which 
God  had  given  him  to  do.  His  release  from 
the  tomb  was  God's  public  declaration  that 
the  Substitute  was  bound  to  no  more  obedi- 
ence or  suffering  for  us.  He  who  takes  Christ 
as  his  substitute  does  therefore  publicly  ap- 
prove of  this  method  of  salvation.  By  the 
act  of  faith  in  the  Redeemer,  he  is  released 
from  the  penalty  of  damnation,  and  from  the 
law  itself  as  a  covenant  of  works,  by  the  keep- 
ing of  which  unfallen  creatures  stand  justified 
before  God. 

II.  Near  akin  to  substitution  is  surety- 
ship, in  which  one  person  undertakes  to  make 
good  the  engagements  or  liabilities  of  another. 
Christ  is  expressly  called  our  Surety.  In  the 
Lord's  prayer,  our  sins  are  called  debts.     They 


VIEWS  OF  CHRIST'S  WORK.  205 

are  indeed  dreadful  debts.  We  could  never 
pay  them.  We  are  said  to  owe  ten  thousand 
talents,  a  sum  equal  to  twelve  tons  of  gold. 
Who  can  meet  such  liabilities?  Besides,  we 
all  owed  a  perfect  obedience  to  the  precept  of 
the  law,  a  sinless  keeping  of  every  command- 
ment. Not  one  of  Adam's  race  could  meet 
such  demands.  Seeing  our  indebtedness  and 
helplessness  and  poverty,  Jesus  mercifully 
became  our  Surety.  He  did  not  indeed  en- 
dorse our  worthless  names,  but  he  gave  his 
own  most  worthy  name  to  God.  He  bound 
himself  to  pay  all  our  debts,  that  is,  to  suffer 
the  penalty  due  to  us  for  sin,  and  to  obey  the 
precept  of  the  law  for  righteousness  to  us. 
He  did  it ;  he  did  it  all.  The  law,  either  as 
to  its  curse  on  the  rebellious  or  as  a  means  of 
justification  before  God,  claims  nothing  of  be- 
lievers. '  Their  tears  and  groans  pay  no  part 
of  their  debt  incurred  by  transgression.  Their 
works  of  love  and  faith  prove  their  sincerity 
and  adorn  their  profession,  but  form  no  part 
of  their  justifying  righteousness.  So  wonder- 
ful was  this  suretyship,  and  so  perfect  was  the 
confidence  of  God  in  the  engagements  of  the 
Surety,  that  "  the  souls  of  the  elect  were  saved 
upon  trust  for  four  thousand  years.     The  Fa- 


206     THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

ther  gave  credit  to  Christ  and  glorified  his 
saints  on  the  footing  of  a  sacrifice  not  then 
offered  up,  and  of  a  righteousness  not  then 
wrought.  Christ  also,  in  the  days  of  his  flesh, 
went  on  credit  with  his  Father  every  time 
previous  to  his  death  he  said  to  a  sinner,  '  Thy 
sins  are  forgiven  thee.'  "*  Thus,  though  Jesus 
was  not  actually  crucified  till  the  days  of  Pon- 
tius Pilate,  he  was  in  the  esteem  of  God  "  the 
Lamb  slain  from  the  foundation  of  the  world.'7 
So  that  "if  you  have  been  looking  at  works, 
duties,  and  qualifications,  instead  of  looking  at 
Christ,  it  will  cost  you  dear.  No  wonder  you 
go  to  complaining.  Graces  are  no  more  than 
evidences :  the  merits  of  Christ  alone,  without 
your  graces,  must  be  the  foundation  for  your 
hope  to  rest  upon."f  Blessed  be  God,  ■"  Christ 
is  not  more  rich  himself  than  he  is  liberal  to 
contribute  of  his  treasures.  He  makes  his 
people  sharers  to  the  uttermost  of  all  that  he 
has."J 

III.  Sometimes  we  speak  of  Christ  as 
meeting  the  demands  of  God's  law  against  us, 
and  then  we  call  his  undertaking  a  satisfac- 
tion, a  satisfaction-  to  the  law  of  God,  a  satis- 
faction to  divine  justice.     This  mode  of  speak- 

*  Ryland.  f  Wilcox.  %  Crisp. 


VIEWS  OF  CHRIST'S  WOBK.  207 

ing  goes  on  the  supposition  that  God's  law  is 
holy,  just,  and  good ;  that  its  demands,  both 
in  precept  and  penalty,  ought  to  be  met,  and 
that  God's  justice  is  an  amiable  attribute,  call- 
ing for  no  more  than  is  right.  The  word  sat- 
isfaction is  often  used  in  a  general  sense, 
not  different  from  atonement,  compensation, 
amends.  But  the  primary  meaning  of  satis- 
faction is,  doing  enough.  To  satisfy  is  to  do 
all  that  is  properly  demanded.  The  judgment 
of  all  right-minded  men  the  world  over  is,  that 
God's  precepts  concerning  all  things  are  right, 
and  that  his  judgments  are  equity  and  truth. 
To  satisfy  God's  law  is,  to  meet  its  demands 
in  all  respects.  This  Jesus  Christ  did  for  us. 
He  said :  "  I  delight  to  do  thy  will,  0  my  God 
yea,  thy  law  is  within  my  heart,"  Psa.  40:8 
"Mine  ears  hast  thou  opened,"  Psa.  40:6 
that  is,  thou  hast  made  me  thy  servant.  As 
God's  law  is  a  transcript  of  his  character,  in 
full  accordance  with  his  justice  and  holiness, 
to  do  and  suffer  all  the  law  demands  is  of 
course  to  satisfy  justice — to  do  and  suffer  what 
justice  requires.  Christ's  satisfaction  goes 
upon  this  supposition,  that  mere  absolute  re- 
mission of  undeniable  guilt  cannot  take  place 
without  loosening  the  bands  of  good  govern- 


208      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

ment.  Guilt  cannot  be  removed  without  what 
some  theologians  call  "compensation" — with- 
out what  most  call  satisfaction.  If  laws  had 
no  penalties,  they  would  be  mere  advice.  If 
their  just  penalties  were  not  enforced,  they 
would  be  idle  appendages  to  the  best  laws, 
and  so  government  would  be  at  an  end.  But 
God's  government  is  perfect ;  he  never  de- 
mands more  than  is  right ;  he  never  unjustly 
condemns  ;  he  cannot  pardon  capriciously  ; 
he  must  show  mercy,  if  at  all,  in  some  way 
consistent  with  the  demands  of  law,  justice, 
and  good  government.  Hence  the  necessity 
for  satisfaction.  The  satisfaction  which  Christ 
rendered  is  taken  sometimes  in  an  extended 
sense.  It  then  includes  all  he  did  and  suffered 
for  us.  Sometimes  it  is  used  in  a  more  limited 
sense,  and  then  it  denotes  his  meeting  all  the 
demands  of  the  law  against  us  as  sinners  by 
enduring  the  penalty  in  our  stead.  Those 
who  thus  use  the  term  speak  both  of  the  sat- 
isfaction and  merit  of  Christ.  By  the  latter 
they  signify  his  obedience  to  the  precepts  of 
the  law;  by  the  former,  his  amazing  suffer- 
ings, by  which  we  are  set  free  from  the  curse 
of  the  law.  His  satisfaction  delivers  us  from 
death;  his  merit  procures  for  us  the  inherit- 


VIEWS  OF  CHRIST'S  WORK.  209 

ance  of  sons.  By  the  one  the  chains  of  con- 
demnation are  taken  off;  by  the  other,  the 
best  robe  is  put  upon  us.  One  brings  us  out 
of  Egypt ;  the  other  brings  us  into  Canaan. 
This  difference  in  terms,  however,  makes  no 
difference  in  doctrine.  Blessed  is  he  who 
has  accepted  this  full  and  glorious  satisfaction 
made  by  God's  dear  Son.  On  him  the  second 
death  shall  have  no  power.  God  has  declared 
the  law  met  and  justice  satisfied  by  Jesus 
Christ.  Is  not  that  enough  ?  Jesus  gave 
himself  for  us  that,  "  the  justice  of  God  being 
satisfied  and  the  law  fulfilled,  sinners  might 
be  freed  from  the  wrath  to  come." 

How  necessary  this  undertaking  of  Christ 
was  is  well  stated  by  Owen  :  "To  pardon  sin 
without  satisfaction  in  him  who  is  absolutely 
holy,  righteous,  true,  and  faithful,  the  abso- 
lute, necessary,  supreme  Governor  of  all  sin- 
ners, the  Author  of  the  law,  and  sanction  of 
it,  wherein  punishment  is  threatened  and  de- 
clared, is  to  deny  himself,  and  to  do  what  one 
infinitely  perfect  cannot  do."  Another  writer 
says:  "The  atonement  may  be  defined  as 
that  satisfaction  for  sin  which  was  rendered 
to  God  as  the  moral  governor  of  the  world, 
by  the  perfect  obedience  unto  death  of  our 


210      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

Lord  Jesus  Christ— a  satisfaction  which  has 
removed  every  obstacle,  resulting  from  the 
divine  perfections  and  government,  to  the  be- 
stowment  of  mercy  upon  the  guilty.'7* 

It  is  an  objection  of  no  force  that  the  word 
satisfaction  is  never  used  in  the  Scriptures  in 
regard  to  the  work  of  Christ.  We  are  not 
contending  for  words.  The  doctrine  is  taught, 
and  that  is  enough  for  us.  It  is,  however,  a 
good  word,  and  is  used  in  Scripture  on  a  like 
subject:  "  Ye  shall  take  no  satisfaction  for  the 
life  of  a  murderer.'7     Num.  35  :  31. 

TV.  Sometimes  we  represent  the  work  of 
Christ  for  us  by  speaking  of  him  as  a  sacrifice. 
It  is  expressly  said  in  Scripture  that  Christ 
"hath  given  himself  for  us  an  offering  and  a 
sacrifice  to  G-od  for  a  sweet-smelling  savor;" 
"he  hath  appeared  to  put  away  sin  by  the 
sacrifice  of  himself;"  "he  offered  up  himself." 
Eph.  5:2;  Heb.  7 :  27;  9  :  26.  He  "bare  our 
sins  in  his  own  body  on  the  tree."  1  Pet.  2: 24. 
His  soul  was  made  an  offering  for  sin.  Isa. 
53:10.  Although  the  word  sacrifice  is  some- 
times used  to  denote  every  kind  of  offering, 
yet,  a  sacrifice,  strictly  speaking,  differs  from 
a  mere  oblation  in  this,  that  in  a  sacrifice 

*  Rev.  George  Payne. 


VIEWS  OF  CHKIST'S  WORK.  211 

there  is  a  real  destruction  or  change  of  the 
thing  offered  ;  while  an  oblation  is  a  simple 
gift  without  any  such  change.  Thus  tithes, 
first-fruits,  and  every  kind  of  property  devo- 
ted to  religious  uses  were  oblations.  But  sac- 
rifices, in  strictness  of  speech,  were  either 
wholly  or  in  part  consumed  by  #  fire.  They 
were  of  three  kinds :  first,  eucharistical,  to 
express  gratitude  for  mercies  received  ;  sec- 
ondly, impetratory,  to  obtain  some  favor;  or, 
thirdly,  expiatory,  to  atone  for  some  sin.  This 
last  was  specially  and  peculiarly  the  sacrifice 
of  Christ.  "  He  was  made  sin  [a  sin-offering] 
for  us."  He  died  as  a  victim  in  our  room  and 
place.  He  put  away  sin  by  the  sacrifice  of 
himself.  He  offered  one  sacrifice  for  sins. 
The  Jew,  who  had  incurred  ceremonial  guilt, 
brought  his  lamb  and  confessed  his  sins  over 
it ;  and  it  became  his  victim,  and  died  for 
him,  and  for  him  alone.  But  when  John  the 
Baptist  saw  Christ  he  said,  "Behold  the  Lamb 
of  God  which  taketh  away  the  sin  [not  of  one 
man,  or  of  one  nation,  but]  of  the  world. " 
.John  1:29.  So  that  Paul  well  argues  that 
there  is  no  need  of  daily,  yearly,  or  any  more 
rificee,  for  by  once  offering  himself  to  God 
Christ  hath  for  ever  perfected  them  that  be- 


212      THE  EOCK  OF  OUE  SALVATION. 

lieve,  hath  made  an  end  of  transgression,  hath 
put  away  sin,  and  become  the  end  of  the  law 
for  righteousness  to  every  one  that  believeth. 
Thus  is  Christ  the  propitiation  for  our  sins. 
That  is,  his  sacrifice  averts  from  us  the  wrath 
of  G-od,  and  renders  God  propitious  to  us. 
The  word  propitiation  is  borrowed  from  the 
propitiatory,  or  mercy-seat,  which  covered  the 
tables  of  the  law.  So  the  propitiation  of  Christ 
covers  up  the  handwriting  that  was  against 
us,  and  opens  the  way  for  God's  mercy  to  flow 
forth  to  us  lost  men.  It  should  be  for  our 
perpetual  joy  that  "the  redeeming  power  of 
the  blood  of  Christ  is  greater  than  the  con- 
demning power  of  sin."*  The  vilest  sinners 
the  world  has  ever  seen,  the  murderers  of 
Christ  and  the  murderers  of  his  saints,  when 
they  have  been  able  to  see  the  completeness 
of  this  one  offering,  have  said,  "It  is  enough: 
my  conscience  demands  no  more  sacrifice  : 
God  requires  no  further  offering." 

Y.  Sometimes  Christ's  work  for  us  is  called 
his  obedience — his  obedience  unto  death.  This 
mode  of  speaking  is  found  in  Scripture,  and  is 
often  adopted  by  good  writers.  Paul  says 
that  "by  the  obedience  of  one  shall  many  be 

*  Mather. 


VIEW  OF     CHKIST'S  WORK.  213 

made  righteous  ;"  that  "though  he  were  a  Son, 
yet  learned  he  obedience  by  the  things  which 
he  suffered;"  and  that  he  "became  obedient 
unto  death,  even  the  death  of  the  cross." 
Rom.  5  :  19;  Heb.  5:8;  Phil.  2  :  8.  Christ's 
obedience  was  both  active  and  passive.  He 
kept  the  precept  and  he  bore  the  penalty  of 
the  law.  He  obeyed  in  suffering.  He  suf- 
fered in  obeying.  In  Romans  5:19  obedience 
in  Christ  is  put  in  contrast  with  disobedience  in 
Adam.  This  is  active  obedience.  In  Philip- 
pians  2 : 8  we  read  of  obedience  unto  death.  This 
is  passive  obedience.  Though  we  thus  distin- 
guish, we  never  separate  these  two  kinds  of 
obedience.  They  are  inseparable.  Had  our 
Lord  lived  a  blameless  life,  the  example  would 
have  been  good  for  us,  and  his  life  pleasing  to 
God  ;  but  how  could  his  life  have  saved  us  from 
wrath  ?  On  the  other  hand,  if  our  Lord  had 
not  been  holy,  his  death  could  in  no  way  have 
availed  for  us.  The  whole  obedience  of  Christ 
has  these  excellent  qualities.  It  was  obedi- . 
ence  unto  God.  So  he  said,  "I  have  fin- 
ished the  work  which  thou  gavest  me  to  do." 
"The  cup  which  my  Father  hath  given  me, 
shall  I  not  drink  it?"  It  was  perfect.  There 
was  no  defect  in  it.     He  did  all  that 'God 


214      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

required.  He  suffered  all  God  inflicted.  His 
obedience  was  unfailing.  He  shrank  from 
nothing.  He  came  short  in  nothing.  He  was 
full  of  zeal  for  the  honor  of  God.  In  his 
greatest  darkness  he  prayed,  "  Father,  glorify 
thy  name."  He  was  full  of  compassion  to 
men.  Having  loved  his  own,  he  loved  them 
to  the  end.  It  was  because  he  loved  us  that 
he  gave  himself  for  us.     Gal.  2  :  20. 

1.  There  is  a  rich  and  harmonious  variety 
of  modes  of  expressing  and  explaining  the 
great  doctrine  of  salvation  by  Christ.  Every 
suitable  method  of  teaching  this  truth  is  either 
used  or  suggested  by  the  sacred  writers. 
While  we  find  this  pleasing  variety,  there  is 
no  diversity  in  the  scope  of  their  teachings. 
They  wonderfully  agree. 

2.  It  is  of  paramount  importance  that  we 
believe  and  maintain  the  true  doctrine  re- 
specting Christ's  undertaking  for  us.  At  no 
time  and  at  no  hazard  let  us  yield  to  the  clam- 
ors or  insidiousness  of  error.  In  the  religion 
of  a  sinner  all  depends  on  the  work  and  suf- 
ferings of  the  Saviour.  Here  alone  can  the 
guilty  have  peace  with  God,  or  the  despairing 
have  hope  beyond  the  grave. 


VIEWS  OF  CHEIST'S  WORK.  215 

3.  There  is  no  danger  in  making  Christ  all 
and  in  all.  "It  is  Christ  that  brings  us  every 
thing  we  get.  ...  If  you  would  have  any  good 
you  must  get  it  by  Christ."*  "If  you  ever 
saw  Christ,  you  saw  him  as  a  rock,  higher  than 
self-righteousness,  Satan,  and  sin.  And  this 
rock  follows  you ;  and  there  will  be  a  continual 
dropping  of  honey  and  grace  out  of  this  rock 
to  satisfy  you."f  Make  much,  0  make  much 
of  Christ.  "Whoever  hath  Christ  cannot  be 
poor  •  and  whoever  wants  him  cannot  be 
rich."J 

4.  The  salvation  of  Christ  is  no  more  rich 
than  it  is  free.  It  gives  milk  and  wine  in* 
almndance.  And  it  gives  without  money  and 
without  price.  If  you  would  be  saved,  you 
must  simply  believe,  simply  accept  the  grace 
that  is  offered.  An  experienced  Christian 
said:  "I  never  had  a  more  lively  sense  of 
my  acceptance  with  God  through  Christ  than 
when  I  was  sensible  of  the  greatest  recum- 
bency on  him:  when  I  laid  most  stress  upon 
him,  I  always  found  most  strength  in  him."§ 

5.  As-  our  persons,  so  also  our  services 
have  acceptance  through  Christ.  The  love  of 
(.<><!  refuses  nothing  which  the  obedient  love 

*  Crisp.        |  Wilcox.        %  Dyer.        \  Thomas  Coles. 


216      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION., 

of  his  people  offers  through  Christ  Jesus. 
Imperfect  indeed  are  all  our  doings.  But 
perfect  is  the  righteousness  of  Christ,  through 
whom  believing  sinners  and  works  of  faith 
are  graciously  owned  and  accepted. 


BEDEMPTION  BY  CHEIST.  217 

CHAPTEE  XII. 

REDEMPTION  BY  CHRIST. 

It  has  long  been  customary  to  speak  of  the 
recovery  of  lost  men  as  the  work  of  Redemp- 
tion. Job,  David,  Isaiah,  and  Jeremiah,  all 
speak  of  the  Redeemer.  Though  the  word 
redeemer  is  not  in  the  New  Testament,  yet 
redemption  and  corresponding  terms  are  there 
of  frequent  occurrence.  In  the  Old  Testament 
the  same  word  is  rendered  Redeemer  and 
Avenger.  The  avenging  of  blood  and  re- 
deeming from  bondage  both  devolved  on  the 
nearest  male  relative ;  so  that  a  redeemer  was 
a  kinsman.  Our  Redeemer  is  our  brother,  bone 
of  <>ur  bone,  flesh  of  our  flesh.  In  the  New 
anient  are  three  verbs  rendered  redeem. 
One  is  from  a  noun  which  signifies  a  market, 
and  means  simply  to  buy.  It  is  found  more 
than  thirty  times.  It  is  the  word  used  by 
our  Lord  when  he  speaks  of  buying  a  field, 
buying  oxen,  bwying  victuajg.  It  is  the  word 
used  by  Paul,  when  lie  twice  says,  "Ye  are 
b&ug/ti  with  a  price."  1  Cor.  6:20;  7:23.  It 
ifl  used  by  John  :   "Thou  hast  redeemed  us  to 

i:o<k  10 


218      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

G-od  by  thy  blood."  Eev.  5:9.  See  also  Rev. 
14  :  3,  4.  God's  people  are  redeemed  from 
the  earth,  from  among  men,  from  their  sins  by 
the  blood  of  Jesus — a  great  price  paid  for 
such  poor  creatures — such  sinful  worms. 

Sometimes  we  have  another  verb,  a  com- 
pound of  the  foregoing.  It  occurs  four  times. 
This  is  the  word  used  by  Paul  when  he  says  : 
"  Christ  hath  redeemed  us  from  the  curse  of  the 
law;"  "God  sent  forth  his  Son  ...  to  redeem 
them  that  were  under  the  law."  G-al.  3:13  ; 
4:4,  5.  This  word  signifies  to  buy  again,  to 
buy  out  of  the  hands  of  another. 

There  is  still  another  verb  thrice  used  in 
the  New  Testament,  and*  always  rendered 
redeem.  "We  trusted  that  it  had  been  he 
which  should  have  redeemed  Israel  j"  He 
"gave  himself  for  us  that  he  might  redeem  us 
from  all  iniquity;"  "Ye  know  that  ye  were 
not  redeemed  with  corruptible  things,  as  silver 
and  gold,  from  your  vain  conversation  received 
by  tradition  from  your  fathers  ;  but  with  the 
precious  blood  of  Christ,  as  of  a  lamb  with- 
out blemish  and  without  spot."  Luke  24:  21 ; 
Tit.  2  :  14 ;  1  Pet,  1 :  18,  19.  This  word  has  a 
noun  corresponding  to  it  [lutron].  This  is  the 
word  used  by  our  Lord  when  he  says  :'  "The 


REDEMPTION  BY  CHRIST.  219 

Son  of  man  came  not  to  be  ministered  unto, 
but  to  minister,  and  to  give  his  life  a  ransom 
for  many."     Matt.  20  :  28;  Mark  10  :  45. 

We  have  yet  another  word,  a  compound 
of  the  foregoing  [antilutron].  It  is  used  by 
Paul  when  he  says  that  Christ  "gave  himself 
a  ransom  for  all."  1  Tim.  2  : 6.  Each  of  thes,e 
nouns  points  to  the  price  paid  for  redemption. 

In  the  Jewish  Commonwealth  redemption 
was  well  understood.  If  a  man  became  poor, 
so  that  he  could  not  pay  his  debts,  he  was 
sold  into  servitude  to  the  year  of  Jubilee. 
But  it  was  the  privilege  and  the  duty  of  his 
near  and  wealthy  kinsmen  to  pay  his  debt, 
and  let  him  go  free.  Among  other  nations 
also,  before  the  coming  of  Christ,  redemption 
was  not  unknown.  In  the  early  history  of 
the  world,  prisoners-of-war  were  often  put  to 
death.  At  length,  humanity  forbade  so  cruel 
a  practice,  and  they  were  sold  as  slaves.  On 
the  return  of  peace,  their  kin  or  their  country 
sometimes  sent  and  paid  a  ransom  for  them, 
thus  redeeming  them  from  their  masters. 

The  moving  cause  of  the  redemption  of 
sinners  is  not  any  thing  good  in  them,  but 
only  tlic  sovereign,  eternal,  and  unchangeable 
love  of  God.    The  procuring  or  availing  cause 


220      THE  KOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

of  redemption  is  the  humiliation  and  death  of 
Christ.  The  end  of  redemption  was  the  pro- 
motion of  the  divine  glory,  as  it  marvellously 
illustrated  the  divine  perfections.  The  effect 
of  redemption  on  man  is  full,  complete,  gratu- 
itous, eternal  salvation. 

■.  The  subject  of  this  chapter  is  the  wisdom 
of  God  in  redemption.  In  this  matter  it  may 
aid  us  to  keep  clearly  in  view  these  truths : 

1.  God  is  a  holy  God.  By  the  unchange- 
able rectitude  of  his  nature,  he  hates  sin.  To 
him  it  is  abominable. 

2.  God  is  the  Creator  of  all  things,  and 
therefore  he  has  a  perfect  right  to  treat  all 
his  creatures  as  he  pleases.  His  awful  chal- 
lenge is,  Shall  I  not  do  '  •  what  I  will  with 
mine  own  V1     Who  dares  take  it  up  ? 

3.  God  is  every  way  fit  to  govern  the 
world  and  all  its  inhabitants.  He  has  all  and 
infinite  perfections.  He  justly  claims  and  ex- 
exercises  the  right  of  universal  empire  and 
control. 

4.  Man  is  a  creature.  He  is  therefore  not 
independent.  He  is  bound  by  his  Maker's 
will.  Nothing  can  release  him  from  these 
everlasting  bonds. 

5.  Man  is  a  rational  and  voluntary  agent. 


REDEMPTION  BY  CHRIST.  221 

He  is  therefore  a  fit  subject  for  moral  govern- 
ment.    He  is  rightly  and  justly  accountable. 

6.  Man  is  a  sinner.  He  has  violated  the 
law  of  his  being.  He  is  thus  guilty,  depraved, 
and  miserable.  He  is  under  a  curse,  in  a 
state  of  pollution,  and  a  child  of  sorrow.  He 
is  not  so  unfortunate  as  he  is  criminal. 

7.  Sin  is  an  evil  of  such  magnitude  as  not 
to  be  manageable  by  finite  beings.  "It  seems 
to  be  a  law  of  mind  that,  once  perverted,  it 
should  never  be  able  to  recover  itself.7'  It  is 
easier  to  make  breaches  than  to  repair  them, 
to  pull  down  than  to  build  up,  to  kill  than  to 
make  alive.  "He  who  cannot  buil  a  hut, 
may  destroy  a  palace. "  One  man  may  kill 
another,  but  all  men  united  cannot  give  life. 
This  is  the  law  of  our  nature.  Let  it  never 
be  forgotten. 

8.  The  whole  problem  of  redemption  was 
therefore  beyond  the  solution  of  a  finite  mind. 
The  limits  of  man's  understanding  and  facul- 
ties are  narrow.  Our  wisdom  consists  not  a 
little  in  confessing  our  ignorance,  in  seeking 
Distraction,  in  shunning  dizzy  heights.  For 
human  weakness  to  meddle  with  the  great 
affairs  of  God  can  never  be  innoxious. 

9.  Let  us   all,  therefore,  learn  what  we 


222      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

can,  and  pretend  to  no  more  than  we  have. 
Let  us  refresh  ourselves  in  the  river  of  truth, 
but  let  us  not  venture  beyond  our  depth. 
Creation  is  beyond  the  reach  of  fair  criticism. 
So  also  is  redemption.  Let  us  be  lowly. 
There  is  a  consanguinity  between  humility 
and  solid  advancement  in  knowledge.  Paul 
confessed  his  insufficiency  to  fathom  the  deep 
things  of  God:  "  0  the  depth  of  the  riches 
both  of  the  wisdom  and  knowledge  of  God." 
Such  ignorance  is  wiser  than  all  boasting. 

10.  All  men  do  at  times  feel  the  necessity 
of  some  redemption-price  being  paid  to  God 
for  them— some  satisfaction  being  made  to 
divine  justice.  Adam  Smith,  the  author  of 
the  ''Wealth  of  Nations,"  whom  none  will  sus- 
pect of  too  strong  an  inclination  to  Christian 
doctrines,  says,  "Man,  when  about  to  appear 
before  a  being  of  infinite  perfections,  can  feel 
but  little  confidence  in  his  own  merit,  or  in 
the  imperfect  propriety  of  his  own  conduct. 
To  such  a  being  he  can  scarce  imagine  that 
his  littleness  and  weakness  should  ever  seem 
to  be  the  proper  object  either  of  esteem  or 
regard.  But  he  can  easily  conceive  how  the 
numberless  violations  of  duty  of  which  he  has 
been  guilty  should  render  him  the  object  of 


REDEMPTION  BY  CHRIST.  223 

aversion  and  punishment ;  nor  can  lie  see  any 
reason  why  the  divine  indignation  should  not 
be  let  loose,  without  an}'  restraint,  upon  so  vile 
an  insect  as  he  is  sensible  that  he  himself  must 
appear  to  be.  If  he  would  still  hope  for  hap- 
piness, he  is  conscious  that  he  cannot  demand 
it  from  justice,  but  that  he  must  entreat  it  from 
the  mercy  of  God.  Repentance,  sorrow,  humil- 
iation, contrition  at  the  thought  of  his  past 
conduct,  are,  upon  this  account,  the  senti- 
ments which  become  him,  and  seem  to  be  the 
only  means  which  he  has  left  of  appeasing 
that  wrath  which  he  has  justly  provoked.  He 
•  ven  distrusts  the  efficacy  of  all  these,  and 
naturally  fears  lest  the  wisdom  of  God  should 
not,  like  the  weakness  of  man,  be  prevailed 
upon  to  spare  the  crime,  by  the  most  importu- 
nate lamentations  of  the  criminal.  Some  other 
intercession,  some  other  sacrifice,  some  other 
atonement,  he  imagines,  must  be  made  for 
him.  beyond  what  lie  himself  is  capable  of 
making,  before  the  purity  of  the  divine  justice 
can  be  reconciled  to  his  manifold  offences. " 
Thousands  feel  as  much  as  is  expressed  by 
this  author;  as  he  says,  it  is  very  natural  that 
they  should.  A  sense  of  guilt  renders  the  ex- 
tee  of  many  almost  intolerable;  nor  can' 


224:      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

it  ever  be  effectually  removed  but  by  some 
great  sacrifice  like  tlie  blood-shedding  of  Jesus 
Christ. 

11.  Wisdom  marks  all  the  divine  conduct. 
In  actual  operation  wisdom  selects  good  ends 
and  right  means  to  accomplish  those  ends. 
■'  The  wisdom  of  God  is  formed  of  his  omnis- 
cience and  benevolence,  united  in  planning 
and  accomplishing  all  real  good  in  the  prog- 
ress of  his  immense  and  eternal  kingdom."* 

We  are  now  prepared  to  look  at  the  truth 
that  there  are  unfathomable  depths  of  wisdom 
in  the  dealings  of  God  with  our  race  in  the 
great  work  of  redemption. 

It  is  evident  that  the  illustration  of  any 
attribute  of  God  or  man,  furnished  by  any 
work,  is  in  proportion  to  the  difficulties  to  be 
overcome.  Some  things  are  simple  and  have 
few  relations.  Others  are  vast  and  complica- 
ted, and  have  bearings  remote  and  immediate. 
Their  course  is  through  a  long  duration.  They 
involve  the  happiness  of  many.  Such  is  the 
work  of  redemption.  It  is  God's  chief  work. 
He  has  expended  more  on  it  than  on  all  his 
other  works  ;  more  than  in  creation  and  prov- 
idence.  It  would  seem  as  if  it  was  known  that 

*  Dwight. 


KEDEMPTION  BY  CHKIST.  225 

God  would  redeem  men,  before  it  was  known 
how  lie  would  do  it.  The  wit  of  angels  seems 
to  have  attempted  no  solution.  The  case  was 
too  wonderful  for  them.  Of  Jehovah  it  is 
said:  "He  saw  that  there  was  no  man,  and 
wondered  that  there  wras  no  intercessor ; 
therefore  his  arm  brought  salvation  unto  him ; 
and  his  righteousness,  it  sustained  him."  Isa. 
•~>9  :  16.  Jehovah  was  the  sole  author  of 
redemption.  He  alone  devised  it.  He  alone 
executed  it.  He  alone  applies  it.  "  Salva- 
tion is  of  the  Lord."  Let  us  notice  .some  par- 
ticulars. 

I.  God's  wisdom  shines  out  in  redemption, 
08  bis  plan  reconciles  all  the  divine  attributes. 
Redemption  must  not  weaken  the  divine  gov- 
ernment, must  not  impair  the  divine  honor. 
God  could  consent  to  nothing  which  should 
evince  the  possibility  of  his  denying  himself. 
When  human  governments  pass  by  offences, 
it  is  a  confession  of  weakness.  God  could 
ignore  no  offence.  Yet  the  eternal  ruin  of  all 
men  would  have  left  the  human  and  angelic 
races  without  a  single  case  of  mercy  shown  to 
(he  guilty. 

"Mercy  pleads,  if  man  be  ruined,  the  cre- 
ation is  in  vain:  justice  pleads,  if  man  be  not 
10* 


226      THE  BOOK  OF  OUK  SALVATION. 

sentenced,  the  law  is  in  vain;  truth  supports 
justice,  and  grace  abets  mercy.  What  shall 
be  done  in  this  seeming  contradiction.  Mercy 
is  not  manifested  if  man  be  not  pardoned : 
justice  will  complain  if  man  be  not  punished ; 
therefore  an  expedient  is  found  out  by  the  wis- 
dom of  God  to  answer  these  demands,  and  adjust 
the  differences  between  them.  The  wisdom  of 
God  answers,  I  will  satisfy  your  pleas.  Pun- 
ishment shall  be  inflicted,  yet  pardon  shall  be 
bestowed.  Justice  shall  not  complain  for  want 
of  an  infliction  of  wrath ;  nor  mercy  for  want 
of  an  exercise  of  compassion.  I  will  have  an 
infinite  sacrifice  to  meet  the  demands  of  jus- 
tice ;  and  the  virtue  and  fruit  of  that  sacrifice 
shall  be  the  delight  of  mercy.  The  rights  of 
both  those  attributes  shall  be  preserved,  and 
the  demands  amicably  accorded  in  punishment 
and  pardon,  by  transferring  the  punishment  of 
our  crimes  upon  our  Surety,  exacting  a  recom- 
pense from  his  blood  by  justice,  and  conferring 
life  and  salvation  upon  us  by  mercy  without 
one  drop  of  our  own  blood  being  required. 
Thus  is  justice  satisfied  in  its  holy  severities, 
and  mercy  in  its  gracious  indulgences.  The 
riches  of  grace  are  entwined  with  the  terrors 
of  wrath.     The  glories  of  divine  mercy  are 


REDEMPTION  BY  CHRIST.  227 

wound  about  the  naming  sword  of  justice  : 
and  the  sword  of  justice  protects  and  secures 
the  glories  of  mercy.  Thus  is  God  righteous 
without  being  cruel,  and  merciful  without  be- 
ing unjust.  His  righteousness  remains  invio- 
lable, and  the  sinner  becomes  recoverable. 
Thus  is  resplendent  mercy  brought  forth  in 
the  midst  of  all  the  wrath  threatened  to  the 
offender."" 

This  scheme  has  no  parallel  in  heaven  or 
earth;  Such  a  suretyship  as  that  of  Christ 
was  never  before  heard  of.  It  stands  by 
itself  in  the  history  of  all  worlds.  Around 
the  cross  of  Christ  were  'assembled  Jews  and 
( i  entiles,  men  and  devils  ;  but  in  the  cross  of 
Christ  justice  and  mercy,  righteousness  and 
e,  severity  and  compassion  embrace  and 
kdsfl  each  other.  So  that  now  forgiveness  to 
the  believing  sinner  is  no  less  consistent  with 
justice  than  is  the  destruction  of  the  unbeliev- 
ing reprobate.  "God  is  just  to  forgive  us 
our  sins,  and  to  cleanse  us  from  all  iniquity." 
A 1 1  penitent  souls  may  say :  "  We  arc  justified 
freely  by  his  grace,  through  the  redemption 
that  is  in  Christ  Jesus:  whom  God  hath  set 
forth  to  be  a  propitiation  through  faith  in  his 

*  Chanioek. 


228      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

blood,  to  declare  his  righteousness  for  the 
remission  of  sins  that  are  past,  through  the 
forbearance  of  God."  Eom.  3  :  24,  25.  God's 
rational  creatures  had  never  before  seen  it  on 
this  wise.  So  far  from  being  able  to  devise 
or  execute  such  a  scheme,  man  is  not  able  to 
comprehend  it.  All  he  can  do;  at  least  the 
best  he  can  do,  is  to  embrace  it,  obey  its 
calls,  wonder,  and  adore. 

II.  The  wisdom  of  God  is  displayed  in  the 
choice  of  his  incarnate  Son,  as  the  Kedeemer. 
Neither  an  infinite  God,  nor  an  enlightened 
sinner  would  be  satisfied  with  the  doings  or 
sufferings  of  a  mere  creature.  What  our  case 
demanded  was  something  far  above  the  power 
of  worms.  Any  redemption  wrought  out  by 
men  or  angels  must  have  been  wholly  ineffi- 
cacious ;  but  if  it  could  have  saved  any  one, 
it  must  have  resulted  in  idolatry.  No  sinner 
saved  from  hell  could  have  failed  to  give  his 
heart  to  his  deliverer.  But  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  was  every  way  fit  to  be  our  Redeemer. 

1.  He  was  divine,  and  so  able  to  lay  his 
hand  upon  God.  He  counted  it  not  robbery 
to  be  equal  with  God.  He  was  the  eternal 
Son.  To  worship  him  was  no  idolatry.  Be- 
fore all  worlds  he  was  the  Well-beloved  of  the 


KEDEMPTION  BY  CHRIST.  229 

Father.  If  any  redemption  could  avail,  his 
would  not  be  powerless.  He  had  no  superior 
in  nature.  He  was  chosen,  appointed,  ordained 
of  God  to  this  very  work.  If  any  ask,  Why 
was  the  second,  and  not  the  first  or  the  third 
person  of  the  Trinity  chosen  to  be  the  Re- 
deemer, we  may  not  be  able  to  tell  what  we 
shall  know  hereafter,  and  we  ought  both  to 
think  and  speak  reverently  ;  but  we  may 
ily  say  that  the  Father  could  not  fitly  be- 
come incarnate  and  our  surety,  for  then  he 
must  have  stood  in  the  relation  of  one  answer- 
ing for  our  guilt  before  the  Judge  of  all  the 
earth.  This  would  have  subverted  the  order 
of  the  Trinity.  The  Father  is  the  first  person 
in  order.  As  such,  there  is  a  peculiar  fitness 
in  his  demanding  satisfaction  for  sins  and 
receiving  applications  for  mercy.  He  is  the 
fountain  of  the  Godhead.  Besides,  he  could 
not  properly  be  sent  into  the  world,  as  it  is  of 
the  Father  to  send  the  Son,  and  of  the  Father 
and  Son  to  send  the  Holy  Spirit.  The  order 
of  subsistence  in.  the  divine  persons  is  prop- 
erly the  ordfer  of  their  operations.  The  Fa- 
tter is  of  none.  He  was  neither  begotten, 
nor  does  he  proceed  from  any.  The  Son  is 
of  and  from  the  Father — eternally  begotten. 


230      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

Whatsoever  the  Son  doeth,  he  doeth  of  the 
Father  :  "  The  Son  can  do  nothing  of  himself, 
but  what  he  seeth  the  Father  do."  John  5  :19. 
When  the  Son  came,  it  was  as  he  was  sent  of 
the  Father,  and  to  "  do  the  ^pvill"  of  the 
Father.  Thus  it  appears  that  the  Father 
was  not  the  proper  person  to  do  the  work  of 
redemption. 

Nor  was  the  Spirit  the  proper  person  to 
undertake  that  work.  True,  he  proceeds  from 
the  Father  and  the  Son,  and  is  sent  by  them, 
yet  it  was  fit  that  the  Third  Person  should 
glorify  the  Secpnd  in  calling  men  to  believe 
on  him,  rather  than  that  the  Second  should  call 
men  to  bow  before  the  Third  ;  for  this  would 
invert  the  order  of  divine  operation.  The 
Redeemer  is  the  object  of  saving  faith.  The 
agent  of  saving  faith  is  the  Holy  Ghost.  In 
order,  the  object  precedes  the  exercise  of  faith, 
and  of  course  it  precedes  the  author  and  exist- 
ence of  faith.  It  is  meet  that  the  Spirit  should 
apply  the  redemption  that  is  in  Christ  Jesus. 
Thus  we  see  wisdom  in  sending  the  Second, 
and  no  other  person  of  the  divine  nature,  to 
be  our  Redeemer.  His  eternal  Sonship  in 
heaven  well  consists  with  his  supernatural 
Sonship  on  earth.     This  double  Sonship  well 


REDEMPTION  BY  CHRIST.  231 

fitted  him  to  be  our  elder  Brother,  by  whom 
we  become  sons  and  heirs  of  God. 

2/  This  leads  to  the  remark  that  God's 
wisdom  is  gloriously  displayed  in  the  incarna- 
tion of  his  Son.  The  glory  of  redemption 
much  depends  on  its  being  effected  in  the  very* 
nature  whose  fall  made  redemption  necessary : 
11  By  man  came  death ;  by  man  came  also  the 
resurrection  of  the  dead  f  "  As  by  the  offence 
of  one  judgment  came  upon  all  men  to  condem- 
nation, even  so  by  the  righteousness  of  one  the 
free  gift  came  upon  all  men  unto  justification  of 
life.  For  as  by  one  man's  disobedience  many 
were  made  sinners,  so  by  the  obedience  of  one 
shall  many  be  made  righteous."  The  first 
Adam  was  earthy,  and  sunk  us  in  ruin  ;  the 
second  Adam  was  heavenly,  and  saves  us 
from  wrath.  By  the  sin  of  one  imputed  we 
fell  ;  by  the  righteousness  of  the  other  impu- 
ted we  rise  to  sonship  with  God. 

Thus  by  his  two  natures  Christ  is  equal 
with  God  in  glory  and  authority,  and  equal 
with  man  in  lowliness  and  suffering.  None 
is  higher — none  is  humbler.  The  Father  greets 
him  with  gladness:  "This  is  my  beloved  Son, 
in  whom  I  am  well  pleased."  The  sinner  hails 
him  with  joy:  "My  Lord  and  my  God."    Thus 


232      THE  KOCK  OF  OUE  SALVATION. 

we  see  the  wisdom  of  God  in  the  choice  of  the 
Redeemer — one  who  can  be  safely  trusted  with 
the  honors  of  God's  throne  and  with  the  sins 
and  sorrows  and  salvation  of  men  ;  one  who 
can  be  worshipped  without  idolatry  and  ap- 
proached without  terror. 

III.  The  wisdom  of  God  is  also  manifested 
in  the  works  and  sufferings  of  the  Redeemer  : 

1.  In  his  works.  They  were  all  faultless, 
perfect.  Even  Pilate  found  no  fault  in  him. 
His  works  were  without  a  blot  or  stain.  They 
were  many.  They  exemplified  every  perfec- 
tion of  God  and  every  virtue  of  the  creature. 
They  set  a  pattern  for  every  duty  ;  they  gave 
a  measure  for  every  attainment ;  they  magni- 
fied every  precept  of  the  law.  His  obedience 
to  law  wrought  out  a  spotless  robe  of  right- 
eousness for  every  believer.  This  is  the  linen 
white  and  clean,  called  the  righteousness  of 
saints.  No  robe  of  personal  innocence  is  so 
glorious.  Angels  in  heaven  are  not  so  beau- 
teously  adorned.  And  it  is  all  by  the  merit 
of  Christ.  Thus  is  boasting  excluded,  God 
honored,  the  dignity  of  the  heavenly  state 
unimpaired,  and  the  sinner  abundantly  saved. 
Thus  is  God's  wisdom  displayed  in  Christ's 
works. 


REDEMPTION  BY  CHEIST.  233 

2.  So  also  in  Christ's  sufferings  do  we  see 
God's  wisdom.  He  was  subject  to  the  penalty 
of  the  law.  He  suffered  as  one  heta  guilty  :n 
law,  not  for  himself,  but  for  us,  whose  law- 
place  he  took.  His  sufferings  began  with  his 
birth  and  lasted  till  he  expired  on  Calvary. 
They  were  not  solely  from  man,  but  chiefly 
from  God  ;  not  merely  corporeal,  but  mainly 
mental  ;  not  confined  to  his  last  hours,  but 
running  through  his  whole  life  ;  not  only  pres- 
ent, but  anticipated  for  long  years.  Luke 
12:50.  "The  radical  error  of  the  Unitarian 
system  is,  that  men  are  saved  solely  by  influ- 
ence or  power.  But  the  truth  is,  we  are  not 
saved  so  much  by  any  action  as  by  a  passion  ; 
not  so  much  by  exertion  as  by  endurance ; 
not  chiefly  by  vital  energy,  but  by  dying 
blood.  It  was  not  finished  till  Christ  died. 
We  are  made  nigh  by  the  blood  of  Jesus. 
We  are  healed,  not  at  all  by  his  words  or 
deeds,  but  by  his  stripes"*  Law  is  stern  and 
uncompliant.  It  "ought  to  be  severe  and 
awful  too,  or  it  will  excite  nothing  but  con- 
tempt."     By  tlie  suffering  of  death,   Christ 

jfied  the  demands  of  the  law,  and  gave  to 
the  troubled  conscience  ground  of  hope.     N<jpr 

*  Nevins. 


234      THE  BOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

no  justification  is  more  perfect  than  that  of 
sinners  who  believe  in  Jesus.  Though  with- 
out the  sh'edding  of  blood  there  is  no  remis- 
sion, yet  by  the  shedding  of  Christ's  blood 
there  is  no  lack  of  forgiveness.  He  who 
poured  out  his  soul  unto  death  is  exalted  a 
Prince  and  Saviour,  to  grant  both  repentance 
and  remission  of  sins.  Thus  is  G-od's  wisdom 
displayed  in  Christ's  sufferings.  The  law  is 
magnified,  the  sinner  is  saved. 

IY.  The  wisdom  of  Grod  is  manifested  in 
the  effects  of  redemption  on  the  universe  : 

1.  We  have  -seen  how  it  harmonizes  the 
divine  perfections  ;  let  us  see  how  it  illustrates 
them.  In  the  cross  we  have  the  strongest  pos- 
sible expression  of  benevolence.  The  infinite 
dignity  of  the  sufferer,  the  unparalleled  humil- 
iation he  underwent,  the  debasement  of  those 
he  would  save,  and  the  utter  impossibility  of 
ever  adequately  requiting  his  love,  all  show 
the  amazing  extent  of  the  Divine  compassion. 
If  any  ever  doubted  G-od's  hatred  of  sin,  all 
such  uncertainty  comes  to  a  full  end  at  Cal- 
vary. If  Grod  would  not  spare  his  own  Son, 
when  he  suffered  the  Just  for  the  unjust,  surely 
he  is  the  awful  and  determined  enemy  of  all 
unrighteousness.    The  scheme  of  saving  mercy 


KEDEMPTION  BY  CHRIST.  235 

evinces  at  <5nce  the  greatest  love  to  the  sin- 
ner and  the  strongest  abhorrence  of  his  sins. 
{i  Christ  was  no  partisan  with  the  sinner  against 
the  law."  In  like  manner  it  would  be  easy  to 
show  how  God's  truth,  and  faithfulness,  and 
power,  and  all  his  perfections,  are  displayed 
in  redemption. 

2.  The  influence  of  redemption  on  holy 
angels  is  both  great  and  benign.  It  affords 
them  the  most  wonderful  theme  of  inquiry. 
They  desire  to  look  into  it,  It  gives  them  new 
and  delightful  employment.  They  minister  to 
the  heirs  of  salvation.  It  gives  them  a  new 
Head.  Though  Christ  is  not  their  Saviour, 
he  is  their  Lord.  It  brings  them  and  men 
into  relations  of  amity  and  brotherhood,  so 
that  they  make  one  family  in  heaven  and  earth. 
It  gives  them  great  and  new  sources  of  joy. 
They  are  glad  with  exceeding  joy  when  a  sin- 
ner repents.  Luke  15:10.  Nor  have  they 
any  theme  for  songs  so  sublime  as  those  con- 
eeining  salvation. 

3.  To  man  the  effects  of  redemption  are 
glorious  and  elevating.  He  who  is  saved 
from  death  should  be  most  of  all  struck  with 
his  deliverance — most  of  all  drawn  towards 
his  Deliverer.     None  are  so  changed  byre- 


236      THE  BOOK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

demption  as  the  redeemed  themselves.  They 
pass  from  the  lowest  depths  to  the  greatest 
heights  ;  from  just,  perfect,  and  awful  con- 
demnation, to  full,  free,  ^nd  irrepealable  jus- 
tification ;  from  a  state  of  the  lowest  deprav- 
ity to  a  state  of  purity  and  holiness  fitting 
them  for  fellowship  with  God  ;  from  a  state 
of  misery  that  cannot  be  conceived  by  sinless 
creatures,  to  a  state  of  comfort  and  joy  un- 
speakable ;  from  a  state  of  fearful  estrange- 
ment from  a  holy  God  and  holy  angels,  to  a 
state  of  lasting  friendship  with  their  Maker 
and  all  right-minded  creatures.  The  bond 
which  binds  them  to  God  and  to  angels 
binds  them  also  to  one  another,  and  that 
for  ever. 

1.  How  futile  are  all  schemes  of  man's 
devising  for  securing  the  favor  of  God  and 
his  own  happiness.  None  of  them  reach  the 
real  evils  in  his  case.  They  do  not  dispose  of 
sin,  either  in  its  power,  or  guilt,  or  pollution. 

2.  How  vain  are  all  objections  to  the  gos- 
pel drawn  from  the  feeble,  erring,  sinful  soul 
of  man.  Never  is  man  more  a  fool  or  a  trans- 
gressor than  when  he  sits  in  judgment  on  this 
greatest  plan  and  work  of  God.  Did  any  wise 
man  ever  undertake  to  show  how  God  could 


REDEMPTION  BY  CHRIST.  237 

have  more  fitly  formed  the  dove,  the  eagle,  or 
the  horse?  Yet  many  a  prating  simpleton 
undertakes  to  tell  the  world  how  he  would 
like  the  plan  of  salvation,  God's  greatest  work, 
to  be  arranged.  _ 

3.  How  attractive  is  the  character  of  Jesus 
Christ.  He  is  the  perfection  of  a  Saviour. 
Some  have  made  the  suggestion  that  he  might 
have  rescued  many  from  sin  and  wrath  with- 
out so  full,  and  frequent,  and  amazing  acts  of 
condescension.  But  who  ever  taught  that  he 
ought  to  have  given  higher  evidences  of  com- 
passion and  tenderness?  All  the  redeemed 
join  in  praising  him,  unite  in  crowning  him, 
contend  in  the  strife  of  extolling  him.  Each 
of  them  sings : 

"  I  was  a  stricken  deer  that  left  the  herd 
Long  since.     With  many  an  arrow  deep  infixed 
31y  panting  side  was  charged,  when  I  withdrew 
To  seek  a  tranquil  death  in  distant  shades. 
There  I  was  found  by  One  who  had  himself 
Been  hurt  by  the  archers.    In  his  side  he  bore, 
And  in  his  hands  and  feet,  the  cruel  scars. 
With  gentle  force  soliciting  the  darts, 
He  drew  them  forth,  and  healed,  and  bade  me  live." 

Matchless  Redeemer !  None  among  all 
the  -sons  of  the  mighty,  none  among  the  holy 
angela,  can  compare  with  thee. 

4.  If  any  desire  a  rich,  pure,  exalted,  inex- 
haustible theme  of  study  and  inquiry,  lie  1ms 


238      THE  EOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

it  in  the  redemption  wrought  out  by  Christ, 
He  need  go  no  farther.  Here  the  holy  angels 
all  stop,  and  bow,  and  worship. 

5.  Unconverted  men  ought  to  feel  a  lively 
and  profound  interest  in  the  undertaking  of 
Christ.  It  mightily  concerns  them  to  know 
something  of  its  wonders.  If  they  ever  find 
life  or  peace,  it  must  be  here.  In  Christ  are 
hid  all  the  treasures  of  wisdom  and  knowledge. 
Col.  2:3.  In  him  is  life,  and  the  life  is  the 
light  of  men. 

6.  Children  of  God,  rejoice  and  obey,  "Ye 
are  bought  with  a  price :  therefore  glorify  God 
in  your  body  and  in  your  spirit,  which  are 
God's."  1  Cor.  6:20.  Give  him  all.  Keep 
back  nothing  that  can  honor  him.  Hear  the 
voice  of  mercy  whispering  good  counsels  to 
your  souls.  Present  your  whole  selves  a  liv- 
ing sacrifice  to  him ;  and  let  the  love  of  God, 
like  holy  fire,  come  down  and  consume  you. 
Be  not  straitened  in  your  charity.  Be  not 
slothful  in  your  labors  of  love.  Be  not  cold 
in  your  zeal  for  the  Master.     Be  ye  enlarged. 


THE  ATONEMENT.  239 

CHAPTEE   XIII. 

THE   ATONEMENT. 

The  word  Atonement  is  found  but  once  in  the 
English  New  Testament :  "We  also  joy  in  God 
through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  by  whom  we 
have  now  received  the  atonement."  Eom. 
5:11.  Yet  the  Greek  word  here  rendered 
atonement  frequently  occurs  elsewhere.  Our 
word  atonement  is  compounded  of  at  and  one. 
At-one-ment  is  therefore  the  same  thing  as  a 
reconciliation.  It  brings  together  those  who 
have  been  at  variance.  The  words  reconcile, 
reconciled,  reconciling,  and  reconciliation,  in  ap- 
plication to  the  work  of  Christ,  are  found  in 
the  New  Testament  nine  or  ten  times.  "  The 
ministry  of  reconciliation"  is  the  ministry  that 
makes  known  the  atonement  of  Christ.  "The 
word  of  reconciliation"  is  the  doctrine  of  atone- 
ment. Here  are  four  striking  passages  from 
the  New  Testament  in  which  the  word  occurs  : 
11  In  all  things  it  behooved  him  to  be  made  like 
unto  his  brethren,  that  he  might  be  a  merciful 
and  faithful  High  Priest  in  things  pertaining 
to  God,  to  make  reconciliation  for  the  sins  of 


240      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

the  people."  Heb.  2  :1T.  "All  things  are  of 
God,  who  hath  reconciled  us. to  himself  by  Je- 
sus Christ."  2  Cor.  5:18.  "  God  was  in  Christ 
reconciling  the  world  unto  himself,  not  impu- 
ting their  trespasses  unto  them."  2  Cor.  5 :19. 
"  It  pleased  the  Father  that  in  him  should  all 
fulness  dwell ;  and  having  made  peace  through 
the  blood  of  his  cross,  by  him  to  reconcile  all 
things  to  himself."  Col.  1 :19,  20.  In  like  man- 
ner Daniel,  9  :24,  says:  "  Seventy  weeks  are 
determined  upon  thy  people  and  upon  thy  holy 
city,  to  finish  the  transgression,  and  to  make 
an  end  of  sins,  and  to  make  reconciliation  for 
iniquity,  and  to  bring  in  everlasting  righteous- 
ness." Each  of  these  phrases  used  by  Daniel 
is  explanatory  of  the  others.  Each  of  them 
points  to  an  atonement ;  and  an  atonement  is 
a  reconciliation,  a  bringing  together  of  those 
who  have  been  alienated.  We  have  forsaken, 
insulted,  and  rebelled  against  God.  He  has 
followed  us  with  mercies,  reproofs,  and  expos- 
tulations, and  yet  we  persist  in  iniquity.  As 
a  moral  Governor,  he  must  put  down  sin  in 
his  dominions.  He  is  holy,  and  hates  iniquity. 
His  nature  and  his  office  both  require  that 
transgression  be  punished.  He  saw  men  ru- 
ined and  lost,  yet  he  pitied  them.     He  pro- 


THE  ATONEMENT.  241 

vided  a  mode  of  reconciliation  by  the  life  and 
death  of  his  Son.*  Jesus  Christ  is  the  Recon- 
ciler. He  is  fit  for  this  work.  He  has  the 
nature  of  God,  and  so  can  appear  with  honor 
before  the  heavenly  Majesty.  He  has  the 
nature  of  man,  and  is  by  experience  acquainted 
with  all  our  natural  infirmities.  He  knows 
what  temptation  and  sorrow  and  death  are. 

In  the  passage  cited  from  Colossians,  God 
is  said  "  to  reconcile  all  things  to  himself'7  by 
Jesus  Christ.  This  mode  of  speaking  is  not 
unusual  in  the  sacred  writings.  The  reason 
of  this  seems  to  be,  that  God  is  the  offended 
party  and  we  are  the  offenders.  As  such,  we 
have  need  to  be  reconciled  to  him.  The  price 
of  reconciliation  was,  therefore,  paid  to  him, 
not  to  us.  The  learned  Grotius  has  very  justly 
remarked  that  in  heathen  authors  men's  being 
reconciled  to  their  gods  is  always  understood  to 
signify  appeasing  the  anger  of  their  gods. 
When  our  Saviour  commanded  the  offending 
to  go  and  be  reconciled  to  his  brother,  the 
plain  meaning  is,  that  he  should  go  and  try  to 
appease  his  brother's  anger,  obtain  his  par- 
don, and  regain  his  favor  by  humility)  en- 
treaty, and.  if  required,  by  reparation  or  res- 
titution.     This  is  also  the  use  of  the  word 

Rv-lr  of  S»l.  11  « 


242      THE  EOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

reconciled,  in  1  Samuel  29  :4,  where  the  Philis- 
tines say  of  David  and  his  difficulty  with  Saul. 
"Wherewith  should  he  reconcile  himself  unto 
his  master  ?  Should  it  not  be  with  the  heads 
of  these  men?'7  They  thought  David  would 
try  to  assuage  Saul's  anger  and  regain  his  favor 
by  destroying  his  enemies.  Indeed,  this  is 
the  ordinary  sense  of  the  term  in  Scripture. 
To  make  reconciliation,  therefore,  is  to  offer 
an  atonement. 

The  doctrine  of  atonement  is  vital  in  the 
Christian  system.  It  claims  our  candid  and 
careful  study.  When  we  speak  of  atonement, 
we  mean  that  "Christ,  by  his  obedience  and 
death,  did  fully  pay  the  debt  of  all  his  people, 
and  did  make  a  proper,  real,  and  full  satisfac- 
tion to  his  Father's  justice  in  their  behalf.'7 
It  was  a  proper  satisfaction ;  that  is,  it  was  not 
figurative  or  emblematical.  It  was  real,  not 
imaginary,  not  feigned,  not  fictitious,  not  the- 
atrical. It  was/w#,  and  not  partial.  It  was 
complete,  entire,  wanting  nothing.  The  only 
possible  ideas  respecting  the  work  and  death 
of  Christ  are  these : 

1.  That  Jesus  Christ  fully  satisfied  all  the 
penal  claims  of  the  law  for  all  men,  and  that 
all  shall  therefore  infallibly  be  saved.     This 


THE  ATONEMENT.  243 

was  formerly  the  doctrine  of  Universalists. 
They  held  that  Christ  had  paid  all  the  debts 
of  all  men,  and  that  God  would  certainly  save 
all  men  by  the  merits  of  his  Son. 

2.  Another  theory  respecting  the  atone- 
ment is,  that  Christ  did  not  by  his  death  sat- 
isfy Divine  justice  for  any  of  the  sins  of  any 
man  ;  that  he  died  merely  as  a  martyr  to  the 
truth  ;  that  no  man  required  any  real  atone- 
ment, and  that  God  required  no  satisfaction 
to  his  justice.  This  was  the  view  held  by  old 
Socinians  of  Europe,  and  embraced  by  their 
modern  followers. 

3.  Another  theory  of  the  death  of  Christ 
is.  that  he  made  atonement  for  some  of  the 

3  of  all  men,  and  left  them  by  their  own 
works  and  sufferings  to  satisfy  for  their  other 
sins  as  best  they  could.  This  view  presents 
the  work  of  Christ  as  partial  and  incomplete. 
It  is  practically  the  theory  of  all  who  by  pains, 
prayers,  penances,  and  acts  of  voluntary  humil- 
ity, propose  to  make  themselves  acceptable  to 
God. 

4.  The  last  view  is,  that  Jesus  Christ  made 
full  and  complete  satisfaction  for  all  his  peo- 
ple ;  that  in  him  they  are  complete  ;  that  in 
him  they  possess  full  redemption  and  perfect 


244      THE  BOCK  OF  OUE  SALVATION. 

righteousness  before  God.  This  is  the  true, 
Scriptural  doctrine  of  atonement.  It  is  full  of 
comfort  to  all  who  are  so  humble  as  to  be 
willing  to  be  saved  by  sovereign  grace.  It 
puts  the  conscience  at  rest,  so  that  it  demands 
no  more  atonement.  Indeed,  it  kindles  up 
untold  delights.  "We  joy  in  God  through 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  by  whom  we  have  now 
received  the  atonement,"  says  the  Scripture. 

'As  the  doctrine  of  atonement  is  not  of 
human  origin,  but  is  matter  of  pure  revelation 
from  God,  it  is  evident  we  must  be  guided  in 
the  formation  of  our  opinions  by  the  Scrip- 
tures alone.  If  they  settle  not  the  points  in- 
volved, all  our  logic  and  metaphysics  will  be 
useless.  Our  appeal  is  directly  to  God's 
word. 

No  one  will  deny  that  in  the  sacred  wri- 
tings Christ  is  called  a  Saviour,  a  Eedeemer, 
a  Deliverer,  a  horn  of  salvation.  He  is  said 
to  be  the  Bread  of  life,  the  Tree  of  life,  the 
Water  of  life.  Indeed,  he  is  said  to  be  the 
Life  itself. 

The  Scriptures  as  clearly  ascribe  our  sal- 
vation to  the  death  of  Christ.  They  say  he 
"died  for  the  ungodly;"  that  "to  this  end 
Christ  both  died,  and  rose  and  revived ;"  that 


THE  ATONEMENT.  245 

Christ  "died  for  our  .sins  ;"  that  saints  should 
live  to  him  who  died  for  them  ;  that  he  died 
for  us  that  we  should  live  with  him.  Bom. 
5:6;  14:9;  lCor.l5:3;  2Cor.5:15;  1  Thess. 
4:14;  5:10. 

The  Old  and  New  Testaments  wondrously 
harmonize  in  their  teachings  on  this  subject. 
Isaiah  says,  "  Surely  he  hath  borne  our  griefs 
and  carried  our  sorrows.  .  .  .  He  was  wounded 
[margin,  tormented]  for  our  transgressions,  he 
was  bruised  for  our  iniquities  :  the  chastise- 
ment of  our  peace  [or,  that  procured  our 
peace]  was  upon  him  ;  and  with  his  stripes 
we  are  healed.  .  .  .  Thou  shalt  make  his  soul 
an  offering  for  sin.  .  .  .  For  the  transgression 
of  my  people  was  he  stricken.  .  .  .  The  Lord 
hath  laid  on  him  the  iniquity  of  us  all.  .  .  .  He 
bare  the  sin  of  many."  In  sin  are  two  things: 
one  its  defilement  or  pollution;  the  other  its 
desert  of  punishment.  To  say  that  God  laid 
on  Christ  the  pollution  of  our  sins  is  blasphe- 
mous ;  but  to  say  that  Christ  "bare  our  sins 
in  his  own  body  on  the  tree,"  is  a  heavenly 
doctrine.  When  the  prophet  says,  "Thou 
shalt  make  his  soul  an  offering  for  sin,"  we 
know  lie  refers  not  to  any  iniquity  in  Christ, 
for  he  bad  no  sin.    Nor  did  our  Lord  bear  the 


246      THE  EOCK  OF  OUB  SALVATION. 

sin  of  fallen  angels.  He  took  not  on  him  their 
nature.  Between  them  and  God  there  is  no 
mediator.  They  are  reserved  in  chains  under 
darkness,  to  the  judgment  of  the  great  day. 
And  yet  his  soul  was  an  offering  for  sin. 
What  sin  can  be  meant  but  ours  ?  One  says, 
"We  may,  in  many  cases,  say  that  the  inno- 
cent suffers  for  the  guilty,  when  one  is  exposed 
to  loss  or  pain  by  means  of  another's  fault,  or 
for  his  benefit ;  but  can  it  be  said,  with  pro- 
priety, that  the  Lord  lays  upon  the  innocent 
sufferer  the  iniquity  of  the  offender,  or  that 
the  former  bears  the  sins  of  the  latter,  when 
no  translation  or  imputation  of  guilt  is  in- 
tended and  no  real  atonement  made  ?  If  so, 
what  words  can  convey  the  ideas  of  imputa- 
tion or  atonement  ?  What  determinate  mean- 
ing can  there  be  in  language  V* 

Peter  declares  that  "Christ  also  hath  once 
suffered  for  sins,  the  just  for  the  unjust." 
1  Pet.  3:18.  If  he  suffered  for  sins,  whose  sins 
were  they?  They  were  the  sins  of  the  unjust, 
even  of  those  whom  he  would  rescue  from  a 
righteous  and  eternal  destruction.  Indeed, 
almost  every  form  of  language  is  employed  to 
show  that  Christ's  sufferings  were  vicarious, 

*  Scott. 


THE  ATONEMENT.  247 

not  for  himself  but  for  others.  Paul  says, 
"God  hath  made  him  to  be  sin  [or  a  sin-offer- 
ing] for  us."  2  Cor.  5  :  21.  In  the  very  same 
verse  it  is  declared  that  Christ  knew  no  sin. 
Surely  he  bore  the  wrath  of  God  that  was  due 
to  us. 

When  Peter  says  that  he,  ".his.  own  self, 
bare  our  sins  in  his  own  body  on  the  tree," 
1  Peter  2 :  24,  what  is  the  meaning  of  this  sol- 
emn language  ?  The  expression  bearing  sin.  or 
bearing  iniquity,  occurs  more  than  thirty  times 
in  Scripture,  and  in  every  instance  it  means 
to  bear  the  sufferings  or  penalty  of  sin.  Thus 
in  Leviticus  5:1,  God  ordains  that  if  a  man 
hear  swearing  and  is  a  witness  and  does  not 
utter  it,  he  shall '  'bear  his  iniquity"  This  means 
that  guilt  shall  so  rest  upon  him  that  he  shall 
be  liable  to  punishment.  So  also  in  Leviticus 
22:9,  God  says  "they  shall  therefore  keep 
mine  ordinance,  lest  they  bear  sin  for  it  and 
die.'7  So  in  Ezekiel  23:49,  God  says,"  Ye 
shall  bear  the.  sins  of  your  idols."  Clearly, 
the  meaning  is,  ye  shall  be  held  liable  to  pun- 
ish mm  t  for  worshipping  your  idols.  Again, 
in  Leviticus  24  :  15,  the  Lord  says,  "  Whoso- 
ever curseth  his  God,  shall  bear  his  sin."  In 
Hebrews  9  :  28,  Paul  says,  "  Christ  was  once 


248      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

offered  to  bear  the  sins  of  many;'7  and  in 
Isaiah  53:11,  God  says,  "My  righteous  ser- 
vant .  .  .  shall  bear  their  iniquities."  Could 
words  more  plainly  teach  that  Christ  endured 
the  wrath  of  God  for  us,  and  bore  the  penalty 
of  the  law  in  our  room  and  stead  ? 

In  Galatians  3  :13,  Paul  says,  "Christ  hath 
redeemed  us  from  the  curse  of  the  law,  being 
made  a  curse  for  us."  This  passage  seems 
specially  intended  to  meet  all  cavillings.  In 
the  language  of  an  Israelite,  the  law  consisted 
of  a  precept,  a  statute,  a  rule,  or  a  direction, 
and  of  a  curse,  or  penalty,  and  of  a  promise 
or  blessing.  The  rule  or  command  was  for 
all.  The  promise  or  blessing  was  for  the  obe- 
dient ;  the  curse  or  penalty  was  for  the  trans- 
gressor. Indeed,  our  Anglo-saxon  word  curse 
has  precisely  the  same  meaning  with  the  Latin 
word  penalty.  As  we  were  all  transgressors, 
we  were  all  under  the  curse.  But  Christ  has 
redeemed  us  by  enduring  the  penalty  or  by 
being  made  a  curse  for  us.  The  slight  varia- 
tions in  the  sense  of  the  word  curse  in  this  pas- 
sage need  mislead  no  one.  In  the  latter  case, 
it  means  a  victim,  one  devoted  or  accursed  for 
us.  In  quite  a  number  of  passages  is  Christ 
spoken  of  as  a  lamb,  a  Lamb  slain,  a  Lamb 


THE  ATONEMENT.  249 

that  takes  away  sin,  as  a  Lamb  that  is  wor- 
shipped in  heaven,  a  Lamb  slain  from  the 
foundation  of  the  world.  Isa.  53  :  7  ;  John 
1:29;  Acts  8:32;  1  Pet.  1:19;  Rev.  5:8,  12, 
and  13:8.  It  is  admitted  that  Christ  resem- 
bled a  lamb  in  his  uncomplaining  gentleness. 
But  in  what  sense  did  a  lamb  ever  take  away 
sin,  but  by  dying  in  the  room  of  the  offerer, 
and  how  could  Christ  as  a  lamb  take  away 
sin,  but  by  the  sacrifice  of  himself?  If  he 
were  slain,  it  was  not  for  himself,  but  for  us. 
All  the  lambs  offered  in  sacrifice  died  the  in- 
nocent for  the  guilty,  the  spotless  for  the 
criminal.  Do  not  these  things  clearly  teach 
that  Christ  endured  the  penalty  of  the  law, 
that  he  died  as  a  substitute  for  others  ? 

The  same  doctrine  is  variously  taught  in 
the  Scriptures  in  connection  with  the  phrase, 
the  blood  of  Christ.  It  is  expressly  said  that 
he  "made  peace  through  the  blood  of  his 
cross,"  Col.  1 :  20  ;  that  "by  his  own  blood  he 
entered  in  once  into  the  holy  place,  having 
obtained  eternal  redemption  for  us,"  Heb. 
9:  L2;  that  his  blood  shall  purge  our  "con- 
science from  dead  works  to  serve  the  living 
God,"  Heb.  9  :  14  ;  that  "the  blood  of  Jesus 

Christ  .  .  .  cleanseth  us  from  all  sin,"    1  John 
11* 


250      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

1:7;  that  he  hath  redeemed  us  to  God  by  his 
blood,  Rev.  5:9;  and  that  we  "are  made 
nigh  by  the  blood  of  Christ."  Eph.2:13.  Now 
the  shedding  of  the  blood  of  Christ  by  his  en- 
emies was  the  greatest  crime  ever  committed 
in  Jerusalem  or  on  this  earth.  It  is  impos- 
sible that  such  wickedness  could  be  pleasing 
to  God.  In  what  sense  then  does  his  blood 
cleanse  us  from  sin?  It  cannot  be  other- 
wise than  as  he  offered  himself  as  a  Lamb 
without  spot  unto  God  ;  poured  out  his  soul 
unto  death,  that  we  might  live  for  ever. 
Blood,  innocent  blood,  calls  for  vengeance. 
The  blood  of  Abel  cried  from  the  ground, 
and  the  cry  went  up  to  heaven.  But  the 
blood  of  Christ  speaketh  better  things  than 
that  of  Abel.  It  calls  for  salvation  to  all  who 
believe. 

The  Scriptures  no  less  clearly  declare  that 
Christ  endured  his  sufferings  for  the  iniquities 
of  his  people.  Isaiah  says,  "For  the  trans- 
gression of  my  people  was  he  stricken ;"  53  : 8. 
Paul  says  that  "he  was  delivered  for  our 
offences,"  Rom.  4:25;  that  he  "died  for  our 
sins  according  to  the  Scriptures,"  1  Cor.  15  : 3  ; 
and  that  he  "gave  himself  for  our  sins,"  Gal. 
1:4.     There  is  no  desirable  sense  in  which 


THE  ATONEMENT.  251 

Christ  could  have  done  and  suffered  these 
these  things  for  sin,  unless  it  be  as  an  atone- 
ment. And  it  is  very  clear  from  the  New 
Testament  that  Christ's  dying  for  sin  is  mat- 
ter of  exultation  to  all  the  pious.  Indeed  the 
only  feast  instituted  under  the  gospel  is  a 
feast  expressly  ordained  to  show  forth  his 
death  until  he  come.  The  Scriptures  no  less 
frequently  declare  that  Christ  died  for  guilty 
men.  "This  is  my  body  which  is  given  for 
you"  Luke  22:19.  "I  lay  down  my  life  for 
the  sheep."  John  10:15.  "In  due  time  Christ 
died  for  the  ungodly."  Eom.  5:6.  "  While 
we  were  yet  sinners,  Christ  died  for  us." 
Rom.  5:8.  There  is  danger  of  weakening 
the  force  of  such  clear  and  solemn  passages 
by  any  explanation.  Still  it  may  be  asked,  In 
what  conceivable  sense  could  Christ  die  in 
our  place  if  it  be  riot  as  a  vicarious,  atoning 
sacrifice  ? 

The  Scriptures  also  declare  that  all  hope 
of  pardon  for  us  lost  men  is  centred  in  Christ. 
But  why  in  him  if  he  is  not  our  atoning 
priest?  Thus  says  Peter,  "Him  hath  God 
i  with  his  right  hand  to  be  a  Prince 
and  a  Saviour,  for  to  give  repentance  to  Israel 
and  forgiveness  of  sins."     Acts  5:31.     Paul 


252      THE  EOOK  OE  OUE  SALVATION. 

says  as  explicitly,  "Be  it  known  unto  you 
therefore,  men  and  brethren,  that  through  this 
man  is  preached  unto  you  the  forgiveness  of 
sins."  Acts  13:38.  Again,  "In  whom  we  have 
redemption  through  his  blood,  the  forgiveness 
of  sins,  according  to  the  riches  of  his  grace." 
Eph.  1:7.  Where  is  the  fitness  of  connecting 
the  remission  of  sins  in  so  remarkable  a  man- 
ner with  the  person  and  the  blood  of  Jesus 
Christ  unless  he  is  indeed  the  substitute  of  his 
people  and  their  Saviour  in  the  highest  sense 
ever  claimed  by  the  Christian  world  ? 

These  clear,  Scriptural  proofs  and  state- 
ments receive  confirmation  and  elucidation 
from  the  following  considerations  : 

1.  If  we  deny  that  Jesus  Christ  endured 
the  penalty  of  the  law,  and  that  his  sufferings 
were  vicarious,  then  we  must  deny  that  he 
was  the  substitute  of  his  people,  and  that  their 
sins  are  imputed  to  him.  If  this  be  true,  we 
are  of  all  men  most  miserable ;  for  we  have 
given  up  this  world  in  the  hope  of  attaining 
a  better  through  Christ's  substitution  for  us. 
But  all  our  sins  still  remain,  unless  we  have 
remission  through  his  blood.  We  are  disap- 
pointed, and  our  guilt  is  still  upon  us.  If  we 
go  thus  far,  we  must  in  consistency  maintain 


THE  ATONEMENT.  253 

that  justice  is  unsatisfied  and  must  ever  remain 
so,  and  that  if  there  is  any  salvation  for  sinful 
men,  it  must  be  in  derogation  of  the  justice 
of  God  ;  it  must  be  by  trampling  under  foot 
the  penalty  of  God's  law. 

2.  Some  who  deny  that  Christ's  death  and 
sufferings  were  vicarious  and  for  us,  yet  admit 
that  the  Scriptures  seem  to  teach  that  doctrine. 
But  they  warn  us  against  being  led  astray  by 
figurative  language.  To  this  these  answers 
may  be  given  :•  1.  If  figurative  language  teach- 
es nothing,  then  it  is  nonsense.  2.  In  all  lan- 
guages, the  very  strongest  things  that  are  said 
are  said  in  metaphor.  3.  A  great  variety  of 
metaphors  is  employed  by  the  sacred  writers 
on  this  subject.  4.  Oftentimes  the  Scriptures 
speak  in  language  perfectly  plain.  "  He  bare 
the  sin  of  many;"  "  He  was  wounded  for  our 
transgressions;'7  "He  died  for  our  sins;"  and 
"He  suffered  the  Just  for  the  unjust,"  are  forms 
of  expression  as  free  from  figure  as  language 
can  well  be. 

3.  If  the  Scriptures  which  are  generally 
relied  on  as  teaching  the  doctrine  of  a  vicar i- 

atonement  may  be  so  explained  as  not  to 
li  it,  then  it  is  useless  to  attempt  to  prove 
any  thing  by  the  word  of  God. 


254=      THE  KOCK  OF  OTJB  SALVATION. 

4.  Any  scheme  of  doctrine  which  opposes 
the  retributive  justice  of  God  will,  if  carried 
to  its  legitimate  results,  subvert  also  the  doc- 
trine of  the  Divine  holiness.  God  punishes 
sin  because  his  nature  leads  him  to  abhor  it. 

5.  If  God  has  set  aside  the  penalty  of  his 
law  without  a  full  satisfaction,  must  it  not 
have  been  at  first  too  severe?  And  if  the 
penalty  was  at  first  wrong,  may  not  the  pre- 
cept for  the  same  cause  be  too  strict  ?  Thus 
by  our  speculations  we  subvert  the  whole  law. 

6.  In  like  manner  we  shall  subvert  the 
gospel.  What  the  convinced  sinner  needs 
and  seeks  is,  not  merely  that  he  may  escape 
hell  and  reach  heaven,  but  he  wishes  to  do  it 
in  a  manner  that  will  secure  the  honor  of  God. 
He  wishes  to  see  how  God  can  be  just  and  yet 
justify  the  sinner.  On  the  old  Bible  doctrine 
of  a  vicarious  atonement,  all  is  plain ;  but  on 
any  other  scheme  there  is  no  way  of  satisfac- 
torily accounting  for  the  death  of  Christ  or  the 
offer  of  salvation.  If  Jesus  Christ  bore  the 
penalty,  all  is  clear;  if  he  did  not,  why  did 
God  smite  the  man  that  was  his  fellow  ? 

7.  How  well  does  the  true  doctrine,  and 
how  ill  does  the  opposite  doctrine,  agree  with 
the   types  of  the  Old  Testament.     Without 


THE  ATONEMENT.  255 

referring  to  the  many  great  offerings  in  detail, 
let  any  one  carefully  consider  the  offering  of 
even  the  young  pigeons  or  the  rite  of  the 
scape-goat,  and  see  what  can  be  the  meaning 
of  such  services,  if  Jesus  Christ  did  not  die  for 
us.  If  Christ  bears  our  sins,  well  may  we  be 
forgiven. 

8.  How  well  does  the  true  doctrine,  and 
how  ill  does  the  opposite  doctrine,  harmonize 
with  the  worship  of  heaven:  "The  songs  of 
the  redeemed  in  heaven,  even  of  those  '  who 
had  come  out  of  great  tribulation,'  and  had 
shed  their  blood  in  the  cause  of  Christ,  afford 
an  unanswerable  argument  in  favor  of  a  real 
atonement  and  a  vicarious  sacrifice  in  the 
death  of  Christ.  Without  one  discordant 
voice,  they  ascribe  their  salvation  to  '  the 
Lamb  that  was  slain,  and  redeemed  them 
unto  God  by  his  blood,'  who  washed  them 
from  their  sins  in  his  own  blood.  But  in 
what  sense  could  the  Lamb  that  was  slain  wash 
fh<  in  from  their  sins  in  his  own  blood,  unless  he 
literally  an  atoning  sacrifice?"*  What  is 
there  to  make  exultant  the  worship  of  sinners 

ed   it.  alter  all,  God  merely  connives  at 
tlteif  transgressions? 

*  Scott. 


256      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

9.  It  cannot  be  safely  denied — indeed  it 
is  commonly  admitted — that  the  early  Chris- 
tian writers,  the  reformers,  and  the  Christian 
world  generally,  until  after  the  middle  of  the 
eighteenth  century,  held  and  taught  that  Christ 
bore  the  curse  and  endured  the  wrath  of  God 
in  the  room  and  stead  of  sinners.  Is  not  this 
fact  a  strong  presumptive  proof  that  the  doc- 
trine is  true  ?  Is  it  possible  that  God's  hid- 
den ones  have  so  generally  mistaken  the 
prophets  and  apostles,  and  been  left  to  em- 
brace delusion  ? 

10.  It  is  a  great  fact  confirmatory  of  the 
true  doctrine,  that  it  has  a  mighty  power  over 
all  right  hearts.  "  0  what  a  melting  consid- 
eration is  this,  that  out  of  Christ's  agony 
comes  our  victory  ;  out  of  his  condemnation 
our  justification  ;  out  of  his  pain  our  ease  ; 
out  of  his  stripes  our  healing  ;  out  of  his  gall 
and  vinegar  our  honey ;  out  of  his  curse  our 
blessing ;  out  of  his  crown  of  thorns  our  crown 
of  glory  ;  out  of  his  death  our  life  :  if  he  could 
not  be  released,  it  was  that  we  might  be  ;  if 
Pilate  gave  sentence  against  him,  it  was  that 
the  "great  God  might  never  give  sentence 
against  us  ;  if  he  yielded,  that  it  should  be 
with  Christ  as  they  required,  it  was  that  it 


THE  ATONEMENT.  257 

might  be  with  our  souls  as  well  as  we  cau 
desire.7'*  Hearts  must  be  harder  than  the 
rooks,  if  the  love  and  death  of  Christ  do  not 
move  them,  When  he  died,  the  rocks  were 
rent. 

*  Hopkins. 


258      THE  KOCK  OF  OUE  SALVATION. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

THE  FOLLY  OF  OBJECTING  TO  THE  ATONE- 
MENT. 

The  minds  of  inspired  men  were  warm 
with  saving  truth.  The  more  fully  the  way 
of  salvation  was  understood,  the  more  did 
they  glory  in  the  cross  and  in  its  power  to 
save.  With  them  philosophy  was  as  nothing. 
Learned  men  without  revelation  had  wasted 
centuries  in  idle  debates,  in  refuting  one  an- 
other, and  in  deceiving  mankind  ;  but  they 
had  effected  nothing  truly  useful.  Not  a  sin- 
ner was  reformed,  not  an  aching  heart  found 
ease,  not  an  idol  was  abolished.  But  when 
the  gospel  was  fully  and  faithfully  preached, 
it  wrought  wonders.  It  saved  men's  souls. 
It  was  full  of  power.  The  early  preachers  of 
righteousness  gave  to  mankind  the  triumphant 
challenge,  "Hath  not  God  made  foolish  the 
wisdom  of  this  world?"  1  Cor.  1:20.  Yet 
the  wise,  the  scribe,  and  the  disputer,  had 
many  objections.  They  mocked;  they  cav- 
illed ;  they  scorned ;  they  counted  the  gospel 
foolishness.     Anon  they  pretended  to  reason. 


FOLLY  OF  OBJECTIONS.  259 

Their  utmost  powers  were  directed  against  the 
cross  and  the  person  of  Jesus  Christ.  They 
hated  the  doctrine  of  atonement.  It  is  even 
so  still.  Time,  which  mends  many  things  and 
wears  out  many  things,  has  not  improved  the 
temper  of  the  carnal  heart,  nor  exhausted  its 
fondness  for  debate. 

Let  us  look  at  some  of  the  objections  made 
against  the  atonement.  These  are  sometimes 
stated,  with  apparent  modesty,  in  the  form  of 
questions,  and  sometimes  categorically  and 
polemically. 

1.  It  has  been  urged  against  the  doctrine 
of  vicarious  atonement,  that  it  involves  a  trans- 
fer of  moral  character.  To  meet  this,  it  is  suf- 
ficient to  ask,  Is  there  not  a  difference  between 
the  penally  of  sin  and  its  pollution?  between 
the  penalty  of  the  law  incurred  and  the  vile- 
ness  of  the  heart  indulged?  between  legal 
responsibility  and  moral  character?  If  an 
innocent  man  pays  the  forfeiture  for  the  non- 
appearance of  a  bad  man  to  stand  his  trial, 
doee  that  make  the  surety  a  partaker  of  the 
moral  character  of  the  criminal?  Surely  one 
may  voluntarily  assume  pains  and  penalties 
for  oven  a  bad  man  without  approving  of  his 
wrong,  or  without  being  like  him  in  moral 


260      THE  EOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

character.  The  truth  is,  a  transfer  of  moral 
character  is  simply  impossible ;  but  nothing 
is  more  common  than  a  transfer  of  legal  re- 
sponsibilities. The  correct  doctrine  on  this 
subject  is  well  expressed  by  Owen  in  his  work 
on  justification :  "  Nothing  is  more  absolutely 
true,  nothing  more  sacredly  and  assuredly  be- 
lieved by  us,  than  that  nothing  which  Christ 
did  or  suffered,  nothing  that  he  undertook  or 
underwent,  did  or  could  constitute  him,  sub- 
jectively, inherently,  and  therefore  person- 
ally, a  sinner,  or  guilty  of  any  sin  of  his  own. 
To  bear  the  guilt  or  blame  of  other  men's 
faults — to  be  alienee  culpce  reus — makes  no  man 
a  sinner,  unless  he  did  unwisely  or  irregu- 
larly undertake  it." 

2.  Again,  it  is  urged  that  if  Christ  bore 
the  curse  due  to  us,  and  fully  satisfied  Divine 
justice,  then  it  is  no  mercy  in  God  to  forgive 
and  accept  us.  But  was  there  no  mercy  in 
God's  providing  that  justice  should  be  satis- 
fied, so  that  salvation  might  flow  fortfi  to  sin- 
ners ?  Was  it  not  mercy  in  God  so  to  love 
the  world  as  to  give  his  only-begotten  Son, 
that  whosoever  believeth  in  him  might  not 
perish,  but  have  everlasting  life?  Is  it  not 
mercy  in  the  blessed  Spirit  of  God  to  purify 


FOLLY  OF  OBJECTIONS.  261 

our  hearts?  To  Christ,  indeed,  who  has  bought 
us  with  his  blood,  justice  and  the  covenant  of 
God  require  that  he  have  a  seed  to  serve  him. 
But  to  the  seed  who  do  serve  him,  considered 
in  themselves,  salvation  from  first  to  last  is 
the  fruit  of  infinite  grace.  To  believers,  con- 
sidered as  in  Christ  and  confessing  their  trans- 
gressions, G-od  is  faithful  and  just  to  forgive 
their  sins.  He  is  faithful  and  just  to  himself, 
faithful  and  just  to  his  Son.  But  to  those  for- 
given it  is  never  of  debt,  but  all  of  mercy, 
pity,  and  love.  The  whole  objection  goes 
on  the  supposition  that  justice  and  mercy,  in 
the  gospel  scheme,  even  after  all  that  Christ 
has  done,  are  antagonistical  to  each  other. 
Whereas  Christ's  first  and  great  work  was,  to 
satisfy  the  claims  of  justice;  and  now  justice 
and  mercy  gloriously  harmonize  in  man's  sal- 
vation. Mercy  abounds  and  grace  is  free, 
because  justice  is  fully  satisfied.  "  The  tran- 
s' indent  graciousness  of  the  gospel  covenant 
consists  not  in  requiring  less  righteousness  to 
give  title  to  life  than  was  done  at  first;  not 
in  requiring  a  perfect  righteousness  of  us  per- 
sonally to  that  end  ;  but  in  providing  and  ac- 
cepting that  of  the  Surety,  according  to  the 
-tie,  Romans  8:3,  4.    The  law  could  not 


262      THE  KOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

give  us  life,  because,  being  weakened *by  sin, 
we  could  not  perform  the  perfect  righteous- 
ness which  it  required ;  but  what  the  law  could 
not  do  Christ  has  done,  giving  us  a  title  to  life, 
fulfilling  the  righteousness  of  the  law  on  our 
behalf.7'* 

3.  It  is  sometimes  said  that  if  Christ  bore 
the  curse  due  to  us  for  sin,  there  is  no  increase 
of  happiness  in  the  universe  by  means  of  his 
mediation.  Such  an  objection  goes  on  the 
supposition  that  Christ's  sufferings  were  in 
exact  proportion  to  the  number  of  those  who 
shall  finally  be  saved,  and  that  they  were  in 
amount  equal  to  what  would  have  been  the 
everlasting  sufferings  of  all  his  people  if  they 
had  not  been  rescued  from  wrath.  But  this 
is  not  the  doctrine  of  the  Scriptures.  It  is 
wholly  unsupported  by  the  word  of  God.  It 
is  shocking  to  the  feelings  of  pious  men.  It 
is  not  maintained  by  one  enlightened  friend 
of  the  doctrine  of  a  vicarious  atonement.  It 
utterly  overlooks  the  infinite  dignity  of  the 
eternal  Son  of  Grod,  from  which  his  sufferings 
derive  their  chief  value,  and  which  puts  them 
far  beyond  all  comparison  with  the  sufferings 
of  mere  creatures.     So  that  there  is  no  ground 

*  Clarkson. 


FOLLY  OF  OBJECTIONS.  263 

whatever  for  the  objection.  His  sufferings, 
though  great,  were  short.  They  were  soon 
followed  by  unparalleled  glory,  in  which  all 
his  redeemed  partake.  The  happiness  of  the 
universe  is  already  infinitely  increased  by  the 
death  of  Christ;  and  yet  his  kingdom  is  far 
from  being  completed,  and  all  its  subjects  have 
an  eternity  of  bliss  before  them. 

4.  Sometimes  it  is  asked,  How  could  Christ 
make  an  atonement  for  us  ?  how  could  he  bear 
our  sins,  endure  the  penalty  of  the  law  for  us, 
and  for  us  work  out  a  perfect  righteousness  ? 

So  far  as  there  is  a  real  difficulty  in  this 
matter,  and  so  far  as  it  has  not  its  seat  in  our 
depravity,  let  the  following  things  be  carefully 
considered  : 

(1.)  God  was  under  no  obligation  to  pro- 
vide any  Saviour  for  us.  He  might  justly 
have  left  us  to  perish  as  he  did  the  fallen  an- 
gels. But  if  in  his  mercy  he  has  provided  a 
Redeemer,  who  has  satisfied  divine  justice, 
why  should  we  find  fault?  If  the  demands 
of  the  law  and  Lawgiver  are  fully  met,  it  is 
jxrverseness  in  us  to  cavil  or  object. 

(2.)  God  could  not  relax  his  demands 
and  acrcpt  a  righteousness  less  perfect  than 
the  law  requires.     "Christ's  righteousness  is 


264      THE  KOCK  OF  OUE  SALVATION. 

called  the  righteousness  of  the  law.  For, 
though  righteousness  does  not  come  by  our 
obedience  to  the  law,  yet  it  does  come  by 
Christ's  obedience  to  it.  Though  by  the  deeds 
of  the  law  as  performed  by  man  no  flesh  liv- 
ing can  be  justified ;  yet,  by  the  deeds  of  the 
law  as  performed  by  Christ,  all  the  elect  are 
justified."*  Eom.  8:4.  So  the  penalty  of  the 
law  is  death,  and  without  the  shedding  of 
blood  there  is  no  remission,  even  though  Christ 
undertake  for  us. 

(3.)  The  whole  work  of  Christ  from  first  to 
last  was  voluntary.  He  was  not  forced  to  obey 
the  law  or  bear  the  curse  for  us.  No  man  took 
his  life  from  him.    He  laid  it  down  of  himself. 

(4.)  Mere  suffering  even  of  such  a  one  as 
Christ  would  not  of  itself  avail  for  us  without 
the  consent  of  the  sufferer  and  of  God  the 
Lawgiver.  Jesus  Christ  died  in  fulfilment  of 
a  covenant  between  himself  and  his  Father. 
Hence  the  efficacy  of  his  bloodshedding. 

(5.)  When  we  say  that  Jesus  Christ  bore  the 
penalty  of  the  law  in  the  stead  of  sinners,  we 
do  not  deny  that  his  sufferings  were  different 
from  those  of  sinners  on  whom  the  curse  falls. 
He  felt  neither  despair  nor  remorse.  His 
*  Gill. 


FOLLY  OF  OBJECTIONS.  265 

holy  soul  could  feel  neither,  because  he  had 
done  no  sin,  and  because  he  knew  his  suffer- 
ings would  soon  be  followed  by  great  glory. 
But  despair  and  remorse  are  nowhere  said  to 
be  the  penalty  of  the  law.  They  are  indeed 
incidents  to  the  wicked,  who  suffer  the  curse, 
but  they  are  not  the  curse  itself.  Christ  also 
suffered  but  for  a  short  time,  whe'reas  sinners 
jrho  bear  their  own  iniquity  must  suffer  eter- 
nally. The  reasons  of  this  difference  in  the 
duration  of  sufferings  are,  first,  Christ's  infi- 
nite dignity  and  glory,  which  made  his  humili- 
ation in  time  of  more  avail  than  the  anguish 
of  man  to  all  eternity ;  and  secondly,  when 
Christ  bore  our  sins,  he  bore  them  all,  and 
made  provision  that  his  people  should  cease 
from  sin  ;  but  the  wicked,  who  fall  under  the 
wrath  of  God,  sin  always,  and  provoke  the 
Most  High  by  new  transgressions  for  ever. 
But  an  eternity  of  suffering  is  nowhere  in 
Scripture  said  to  be  an  inherent  clement  of 
the  penalty  of  the  law.  It  accompanies  it 
only  when  borne  by  finite  creatures,  them- 
selves  sinners.  The  death  of  the  body  and 
that  endurance  of  the  wrath  of  God  in  the 
mind,  which  is  properly  called  the  death  of 
tin'  soul,  constitute  the  penalty  of  the  law. 

.    f  8.1.  12 


266      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

Jesus  Christ  bore  these,  for  all  admit  that 
his  body  died  and  was  buried  ;  and  that  his 
soul  was  exceeding  sorrowful  even  unto  death. 
This  is  the  sense  and  the  only  sense  in  which 
any  sound  writer  maintains  that  Christ  bore 
the  penalty  of  the  law. 

Admitting  these  views,  how  plain  is  it  that 
God  could  be  just  and  yet  justify  the  ungodly. 
But  if  we  reject  these  views  and  maintain 
that  in  saving  his  people  it  was  the  deliberate 
purpose  of  God  to  set  aside  the  penalty  of 
the  law,  who  can  conceive  of  the  object  of 
Christ's  death?  All  admit  that  he  died  not 
for  his  own  sins,  for  he  had  none.  If  divine 
justice  requires  the  punishment  of  sin,  how  is 
God  just  in  not  punishing  his  people,  unless 
the  wrath  due  to  them  was  borne  by  their 
Substitute  ?  We  cannot  prove  that  God  is 
righteous  in  permitting  any  one  personally  in- 
nocent, not  standing  in  the  place  of  the  guilty, 
to  suffer  much  or  little.  Good  angels  have 
sometimes  visited  our  world  in  the  form  of 
men  ;  and  some  have  sought  to  harm  them. 
But  God  never  permitted  one  of  them  to  en- 
dure the  least  pain.  There  can  be  no  greater 
injustice  than  to  visit  with  stripes  one  who  is 
under  no  penalty.     The  sufferings  of  Christ 


FOLLY  OF  OBJECTIONS.  267 

can  never  be  reconciled  with  justice,  unless  he 
bore  the  wrath  of  God  due  to  us.  To  inflict 
pain  on  one  who  has  done  no  wrong  or  who 
has  not  assumed  legal  responsibilities  for  oth- 
ers, is  absurd. 

Some  hold  that  Christ's  sufferings  were 
not  penal,  yet  that  his  death  was  an  exhibi- 
tion of  God's  justice,  and  hatred  of  sin.  But 
how  can  it  illustrate  these  excellent  attributes 
of  the  Most  High  to  inflict  unparalleled  suf- 
ferings on  one  who  had  never  displeased  him, 
and  who  had  not  undertaken  to  bear  the  pen- 
alty of  the  law  in  the  room  of  others  ?■  The 
only  legal  obstacle  to  the  salvation  of  any  sin- 
ner is  the  penalty  of  the  law.  If  that  is  not 
borne,  it  remains  in  full  force,  and  forever 
demands  satisfaction.  To  admit  men  to  heaven 
with  the  penalty  of  the  law  still  unsatisfied, 
would  be  trampling  the  law  under  foot.  No 
government  can  maintain  its  authority  when 
the  penalty  of  its  laws  is  not  enforced.  The 
penalty  not  executed,  the  precept  falls  into 
contempt.  If  sinners  were  thus  saved,  the 
heayens  would  be  filled  with  thieves  and  rob- 
bers,  as  Christ  speaks,  that  is,  with  men  who 
would  bo  there  in  spite  of  law  and  right,  and 
in  contempt  of  God's  retributive  justice. 


268      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

Where,  then,  is  the  difficulty  in  the  case? 
God,  the  Judge  of  all,  objects  not  to  our  salva- 
tion by  the  death  of  his  Son.  The  Son  died 
and  lives  for  this  great  purpose.  The  Holy 
Spirit  calls  men  to  repentance.  Why  should 
we  waste  our  lives  in  crying,  "How  can  these 
things  be?"  A  little  simple  faith  in  Jesus 
Christ  will  scatter  the  difficulties  men  make 
about  this  doctrine. 

5.  Others  say  that  if  Jesus  Christ  made  a 
vicarious  atonement  for  those  who  believe  on 
him,  and  laid  down  his  life  for  his  sheep,  how 
can  we  offer  the  salvation  of  the  gospel  to  all 
men,  as  we  are  commanded  to  do  ? 

Let  us  look  at  this  matter  candidly  and 
fairly.  In  reply  it  may  be  stated  that  the 
Scriptures  clearly  teach  that  Christ  died  to 
save  his  people,  and  with  the  covenant  en- 
gagement on  the  part  of  his  Father  that  he 
should  effect  that  great  end.  He  himself  says, 
"  I  lay  down  my  life  for  the  sheep  f  and 
prophecy  said,  "He  shall  prolong  his  days  ; 
he  shall  see  his  seed.'7  Yet  we  have  the  ex- 
ample of  God,  of  the  prophets,  of  the  Jjord 
Jesus  Christ,  and  of  the  apostles,  in  favor  of 
making  an  indiscriminate  and  urgent  offer  of 
salvation  to  our  fellow-men.    But  it  is  no  part 


FOLLY  OF  OBJECTIONS.  269 

of  the  true  doctrine  of  the  atonement  that  the 
merit  of  our  Saviour  is  exhausted  in  the  sal- 
vation of  those  who  believe  on  him.  No 
respectable  writer  teaches  that  Christ's  humil- 
iation and  sufferings  would  have  been  less  if 
the  number  of  his  chosen  people  had  been 
smaller  ;  nor  that  his  humiliation  and  suffer- 
ings would  have  been  greater,  if  the  number 
to  be  saved  had  been  greater.  The  old  stand- 
ard writers  all  held  that  the  offer  of  salvation 
was  to  be  made  to  men  indiscriminately,  earn- 
estly, and  tenderly ;  that  it  was  entirely  con- 
sistent, to  make  such  an  offer,  that  there  is  an 
infinite  fulness  in  Christ,  a  sufficiency  of  merit 
to  save  the  souls  of  all  who  should  come. 
Mark  the  testimony  of  eminent  divines. 

Calvin:  "We  know  the  promises  to  be 
effectual  to  us  only  when  we  receive  them  by 
faith :  on  the  contrary,  the  annihilation  of 
fa i  tli  is  the  abolition  of  the  promises.  If  this 
is  their  nature,  we  may  perceive  that  there 
is  no  discordance  between  these  two  things  : 
God's  having  appointed  from  eternity  on  whom 
li<-  will  bestow  his  favor  and  exercise  his  wrath, 
and  his  proclaiming  salvation  to  all.  Indeed, 
I  maintain  that  there  is  a  most  perfect  har- 
mony between  them." 


270     THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

Owen:  "It  was,  then,  the  intention  and 
purpose  of  Gocl  that  his  Son  should  offer  a 
sacrifice  of  infinite  worth,  value,  and  dignity, 
sufficient  in  itself  for  the  redeeming  of  all  and 
every  man,  if  it  had  pleased  the  Lord  to 
employ  it  for  that  purpose  ;  yea,  and  of  other 
worlds  also,  if  the  Lord  should  freely  make 
them  and  would  redeem  them.  Sufficient,  we 
say  then,  was  the  sacrifice  of  Christ  for  the 
redemption  of  the  whole  world,  and  for  the 
expiation  of  all  the  sins  of  all  and  every  man 
in  the  world.  This  sufficiency  of  his  sacrifice 
hath  a  two-fold  rise.  First,  the  dignity  of  the 
person  that  did  offer  and  was  offered.  Sec- 
ondly, the  greatness  of  the  pain  he  endured, 
by  which  he  was  able  to  bear  and  did  undergo 
the  whole  curse  of  the  law  of  God  due  to  sin  : 
and  this  sets  out  the  innate,  real,  true  worth  of 
the  Uoodshedding  of  Jesus  Christ." 

Thomas  Boston:  "There  was  virtue  and 
efficacy  enough  in  Christ's  oblation  to  satisfy 
offended  justice  for  the  sins  of  the  whole  world, 
yea,  and  of  millions  of  worlds  more  ;  for  his 
blood  hath  infinite  value  because  of  the  excel- 
lency and  dignity  of  his  person." 

John  Brown  of  Haddington  :  "  Such  is  the 
infinite  dignity  of  Christ's  person  that  his  ful- 


FOLLY  OF  OBJECTIONS.  271 

fitment  of  the  broken  law  is  sufficient  to  bal- 
ance all  the  debts  of  all  the  elect,  nay,  of 
millions  of  guilty  worlds.  ...  In  respect  of  its 
intrinsic  worth  as  the  obedience  and  suffer- 
ings of  a  divine  person,  Christ's  satisfaction  is 
sufficient  for  the  ransom  of  all  mankind :  and 
being  fulfilled  in  human  nature,  is  equally 
suited  to  all  their  necessities." 

What  broader,  surer  foundation  for  a  sin- 
cere and  consistent  offer  of  mercy,  than  is 
found  in  such  views  as  these,  can  any  one 
demand  ? 

Hervey:  "The  obedience  and  atonement 
are  as  sufficient  to  secure  perfectly  all  sinners 
that  fly  by  faith  under  the  covert  of  his  wings, 
as  the  immeasurable  circuit  of  the  sky  is 
roomy  enough  for  a  lark  to  fly  in,  or  as  the 
immense  brightness  of  the  Sun  is  lightsome 
enough  for  a  laborer  to  work  by.  When  the 
thunders  roar,  and  the  lightnings  flash ;  when 
the  clouds  pour  down  water,  and  a  horrid 
storm  comes  on  ;  all,  that  are  in  the  open  air, 
retire  under  the  branches  of  a  thick  tree,  or 
fly  to  some  other  commodious  shelter.  So  the 
blood  and  righteousness  of  Christ  are  a  covert. 
Hither  we  may  fly  and  be  screened;  hither 
we  may  fly  and  be  safe." 


272      THE  EOCK  OF  OUK  SALVATION. 

Witherspoon  :  "I  shall  lay  down  three 
propositions  which  I  think  can  hardly  be 
called  in  question,  and  which  are  a  sufficient 
foundation  for  our  faith  and  practice. 

"1.  The  obedience  and  death  of  Christ  is 
of  value  sufficient  to  expiate  the  guilt  of  all 
the  sins  of  every  individual  that  ever  lived 
or  shall  live  on  earth.  This  cannot  be  de- 
nied, since  the  subjects  to  be  redeemed  are 
finite,  the  price  paid  for  their  redemption  is 
infinite.  Christ  suffered  in  the  human  nature, 
but  that  nature  was  intimately  and  personally 
united  to  the  divine ;  so  that  Christ  the  Medi- 
ator, the  gift  of  God  for  the  redemption  of  sin- 
ners, is  often  called  his  own  and  his  eternal 
Son.  '  He  that  spared  not  his  own  Son,  but 
delivered  him  up  for  us  all,  how  shall  he  not 
with  him  also  freely  give  us  all  things.'  Eom. 
8  :  32.  Such  was  the  union  of  the  divine  and 
human  nature  in  Christ,  that  the  blood  which 
was  the  purchase  of  our  redemption,  is  ex- 
pressly called  the  blood  of  God.  Acts  20 :28. 
This  is  the  great  mystery  of  godliness,  God 
was  manifest  in  the  flesh,  in  wilich  all  our 
thoughts  are  lost  and  swallowed  up. 

"2.  Notwithstanding  this,  every  individ- 
ual of  the  human  race  is  not  in  fact  partaker 


FOLLY  OF  OBJECTIONS.  273 

of  the  blessing  of  the  purchase,  but  many  die 
in  their  sins,  and  perish  for  ever.  This  wil] 
as  little  admit  of  a  doubt.  Multitudes  have 
died  who  never  heard  of  the  name  of  Christ, 
or  salvation  through  him  ;  many  have  lived 
and  died  blaspheming  his  person  and  despising 
his  undertaking  ;  many  have  died  in  unbelief 
and  impenitence,  serving  divers  lusts  and 
passions,  and  if  the  Scripture  is  true,  he  will 
at  last  render  to  them  according  to  their 
works.     But 

"3.  There  is  in  the  death  of  Christ  a  suffi- 
cient foundation  laid  for  preaching  the  gospel 
indefinitely  to  all  without  exception.  It  is  the 
command  of  God  that  this  should  be  done  : 
And  he  said  unto  them,  Go  ye  into  all  the 
world,  and  preach  the  gospel  to  every  crea- 
ture." MarklG:15.  The  effect  of  this  is,  that 
the  misery  of  the  unbelieving  and  impenitent 
shall  be  entirely  at  their  own  door  ;  and  they 
.shall  not  only  die  in  their  own  sins,  but  shall 
suffer  to  eternity  for  the  most  heinous  of  all 
sins — despising  the  remedy  and  refusing  to 
h«\ar  the  Son  of  God. 

"Let  us  neither  refuse  our  assent  to  any 
part  of  the  revealed  will  of  God,  nor  foolishly 
imaging  an  opposition  between  one  part  of  it 
12* 


274     THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

and  another.  All  the  obscurity  arises  from, 
and  may  be  resolved  into,  the  weakness  of  our 
understandings  ;  but  let  God  be  true,  and  ev- 
ery man  a  liar.  That  there  is  a  sense  in  which 
Christ  died  for  all  men,  and  even  for  those 
who  perish,  is  plain  from  the  very  words  of 
Scripture." 

In  like  manner  Symington :  "Wc  hold  that 
the  sacrifice  of  the  Lord  Jesus  possessed  an 
intrinsic  value  sufficient  for  the  salvation  of  the 
whole  world.  In  this  sense  it  was  adequate  to 
the  redemption  of  every  human  being.  . .  .  The 
worth  of  Christ's  atonement  we  hold  to  be,  in 
the  strictest  sense  of  the  term,  infinite,  abso- 
lute, all-sufficient ....  This  all- sufficiency  is  what 
lays  the  foundation  for  the  unrestricted  univer- 
sality of  the  gospel  call ....  Such  is  my  impres- 
sion of  the  sufficiency  of  the  atonement,  that 
were  all  the  guilt  of  all  mankind  concentrated 
in  my  own  person,  I  should  sec  no  reason, 
relying  on  that  blood  which  cleanseth  from  all 
sin,  to  indulge  despair." 

So  also  Dr.  Candlish  has  written  at  length 
to  show  that  there  is  a  fitness  in  the  "  univer- 
sality of  the  gospel  offer,"  and  that  it  is  sin- 
cere and  in  "good  faith  on  the  part  of  God." 
.    .  "We  maintain  that  the  death  of  Christ 


FOLLY  OF  OBJECTIONS.  275 

lavs  the  foundation  for  the  offer  of  the  gospel 
to  all  men  universally,  and  lays  the  founda- 
tion for  that  offer  being  honest  and  free  on  the 
part  of  God." 

Precious  as  is  the  doctrine  of  a  vicarious 
atonement,  and  glad  as  must  be  the  heart  of 
him  who  hopes  that  he  personally  is  interested 
in  the  sacrifice  of  Calvary,  yet  it  abates  noth- 
ing from  the  riches  of  divine  grace,  but  on 
the  .contrary,  enhances  its  glories,  that  the 
blood  of  Christ  will  never  lose  its  power  ;  and 
when  all  the  redeemed  shall  have  obtained  a 
full  supply,  the  treasure  of  gospel  grace  will 
be  as  ample ^s  ever.  Let  sinners  everywhere 
know  that  if  they  perish  it  is  not  because  there 
is  not  merit  in  Christ  sufficient  to  meet  all  the 
demands  of  law  and  justice  against  them.  Let 
them  all  turn  and  embrace  the  kind,  the  sin- 
cere, the  urgent  call  to  life  and  salvation  by 
mere  gratuity  on  the  part  of  God  :  ".  Whoso- 
ever will,  let  him  take  the  water  of  life  freely." 
As  God  is  not  mocked,  so  neither  does  he  mock 
any  of  his  creatures. 

Other  objections  have  been  urged  against 
the  doctrine  of  a  vicarious  atonement,  but  it  is 
not  necessary  here  to  dwell  upon  them. 


276     THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

1.  Let  the  Christian  glory  in  the  fulness 
and  sufficiency  of  the  work  of  Christ.  His 
crown  and  his  inheritance  are  sure.  In  this 
world's  possessions  you  may  be  poor;  but  "a 
ragged  saint  is  dearer  to  God  than  a  godless 
millionaire.77  "  God  is  a  portion  of  which  his 
people  can  never  be  robbed.  Impoverished 
you  may  be,  but  not  undone  ;  discouraged, 
but  not  disinherited.7'*  I  recommend  Christ 
to  you  more  and  more.  Hold  fast  to  him. 
Never  let  him  go.     Especially, 

2.  Let  all  sinners  everywhere  accept  the 
salvation  that  is  so  fully  provided  and  so  freely 
offered.  Why  will  men  stand  and  cavil,  and 
wonder,  and  perish,  when  they  are  called  to 
return  to  God  and  seek  salvation?  "There 
is  mercy  enough  in  God,  and  merit  enough  in 
Christ,  and  power  enough  in  the  Spirit,  and 
scope  enough  in  the  promises,  and  room  enough 
in  heaven.77  0  why  will  men  refuse  salva- 
tion? 

*  Arrowsmith. 


CHRIST'S  RESURRECTION.  277 

CHAPTER  XV. 

CHRIST'S  RESURRECTION. 

The  humiliation  of  Christ  being  completed 
in  his  death  and  burial,  his  exaltation  began 
in  his  resurrection  from  the  dead.  This  is  a 
great  cardinal  truth  in  the  Christian  system. 
It  has  often  been  shown  to  be  so.  It  is  so  by 
the  confession  of  all  Christians,  and  of  the 
apostles  themselves.  Paul  says,  "If  Christ 
be  not  risen,  then  is  our  preaching  vain,  and 
your  faith  is  also  vain.  ...  If  Christ  be  not 
raised,  your  faith  is  vain ;  ye  are  yet  in  your 
sins.  Then  they  also  which  are  fallen  asleep 
in  Christ  are  perished.  If  in  this  life  only  we 
have  hope  in  Christ,  we  are  of  all  men  most 
miserable:"  1  Cor.  15:14, 17-19.  Clearly  this 
doctrine  is  fundamental.  It  should  be  often 
preached  and  never  yielded.  "It  is  the  car- 
dinal fact  of  Christianity,  without  which  all 
her  other  facts  lose  their  importance."* 

It  is  agreed  by  Jews,  Christians,  and  Infi- 
dels, that  Christ  was  dead  and  buried.  For  a 
time  his  body  was  lifeless.   Any  decent  regard 

*  Mason. 


278      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

to  truth  must  admit  this.  Of  his  death  there 
is  no  doubt.  Himself  admitted  it  more  than 
fifty  years  afterwards  :  "  I  am  He  that  liveth, 
and  was  dead  ;  and,  behold,  I  am  alive  for 
evermore." 

It  is  also  clear  that  prophecy  required  that 
Christ  should  rise  from  the  dead.  "  My  flesh 
also  shall  rest  in  hope.  For  thou  wilt  not  leave 
my  soul  in  hell;  neither  wilt  thou  suffer  thine 
Holy  One  to  see  corruption."  Ps.  16  :  9,  10. 
That  this  does  not  apply  to  angels  is  cer- 
tain, for  angels  are  pure  spirits  and  have  no 
"flesh."  They  never  die.  That  it  does  not 
refer  to  any  mere  man  is  certain,  for  the  per- 
son here  spoken  of  is  called  God's  Holy  One, 
and  all  mere  men  are  sinful.  That  it  does  not 
apply  to  David,  who  wrote  the  Psalm  where  it 
is  found,  Peter  proved  on  the  day  of  Pente- 
cost: "Men  and  brethren,  let  me  freely  speak 
unto  you  of  the  patriarch  David,  that  he  is 
both  dead  and  buried,  and  his  sepulchre  is 
with  us  unto  this  day ;"  we  know  that  he  has 
seen  corruption,  for  he  has  been  lying  in  the 
grave  for  centuries.  But,  continues  Peter, 
David  "being  a  prophet,  and  knowing  that 
G-od  had  sworn  with  an  oath  to  him,  that  of 
the  fruit  of  his  loins  according  to  the  flesh  he 


CHRIST'S  RESURRECTION.  279 

would  raise  up  Christy  to  sit  on  his  throne,  he 
seeing  this  before  spake  of  the  resurrection  of 
Christ,  that  his  soul  was  not  left  in  hell,  nei- 
ther his  flesh  did  see  corruption."  Acts  2 :29- 
31.  Jesus  foretold  his  own  resurrection :  "De- 
stroy this  temple,  and  in  three  clays  I  will 
raise  it  up."  John  2:19.  "He  spake  of  the 
temple  of  his  body." 

In  the  resurrection  of  Christ  there  was  a 
concurrence  of  all  the  divine  persons.  Peter 
says,  "God  raised  him  up."  Acts  10:40.  Paul 
also  say,  "God  the  Father  raised  him  from 
the  dead."  Gal.  1:1.  But  this  work  is  not 
ascribed  to  the  Father  alone.  The  divine  na- 
ture of  Christ  was  employed  in  quickening  his 
own  dead  body.  Himself  said  of  his  own 
body,  "I  will  raise  it  up."  "I  have  power 
to  lay  down  my  life,  and  I  have  power  to  take 
it  ngain."  The  Son  of  God  participated  in 
the  resurrection  of  his  own  body.  And  in 
Romans  8:11  the  same  work  is  said  to  have 
been  effected  by  the  Spirit  of  God.  As  in 
creation  and  providence,  so  in  the  raising  of 
Christ's  body,  each  person  of  the  Godhead 
concurred. 

Peter  says  that  Christ  was  raised  up  the 
third  day.     Acts  10:40.     In  reckoning  time, 


280     THE  EOCK  OF  OUE  SALVATION. 

both  Hebrews  and  Greeks  frequently  counted 
the  part  of  a  day  on  which  a  thing  began  as  one 
day,  and  the  part  of  a  day  on  which  it  ceased 
as  another  day,  and,  putting  these  to  the  inter- 
mediate day  or  days,  gave  the  total.  Thus, 
among  the  Hebrews,  the  day  on  which  a  child 
was  born  was  set  down  as  one  day,  and  the 
day  on  which  it  was  brought  to  be  circum- 
cised was  put  down  as  another  day,  and  only 
six  entire  days  intervened  between  its  birth 
and  circumcision,  and  so  it  frequently  hap- 
pened that  a  child  was  not  seven  times  twenty- 
four  hours  old  when  it  was  circumcised,  and 
yet  the  law  required  that  sign  and  seal  to  be 
put  on  the  child  on  the'  eighth  day.  Greek 
antiquities  show  that  the  same  mode  of  reck- 
oning was  often  used  in  Eastern  Europe.  At 
other  times  the  Hebrews  counted  only  the  en- 
tire days.  Compare  Luke  9  :  28  and  Mark  9  :2. 
So  that  either  mode  might  be  used.  The  gos- 
pels state  that  Christ  was  buried  the  after- 
noon of  the  day  before  the  Jewish  Sabbath, 
and  that  he  rose  very  early  on  the  day  after 
the  Jewish  Sabbath.  So  that  he  continued 
under  the  power  of  death  one  whole  day  and 
a  part  of  two  others.  This  method  of  compu- 
ting time  explains  the  phrases  three  days  and 


CHKIST'S  EESUKKECTION.  281 

the  third  day.  Jesus  arose  the  third  day ;  this 
was  the  time  fixed  by  his  own  prophecies ;  had 
he  risen  sooner,  some  might  have  doubted  the 
reality  of  his  death ;  had  he  remained  longer 
in  the  grave,  the  season  of  terrible  fear  and 
darkness  to  his  people  would  have  been 
needlessly  prolonged ;  had  he  remained  much 
longer  under  the  power  of  death,  his  body 
must  have  "seen  corruption,"  which  prophecy 
had  said  should  not  be. 

Christ's  raised  body  was  a  real  body,  and 
not  merely  the  appearance  of  a  body.  In  the 
minds  of  his  followers  there  were  doubts  on 
this  point.  Once  when  he  stood  in  the  midst 
of  them  they  were  "affrighted,  and  supposed 
that  they  had  seen  a  spirit.'1  To  settle  this 
point  he  said,  "Handle  me,  and  see;  for  a 
spirit  hath  not  flesh  and  bones,  as  ye  see  me 
have."  Their  sight  and  their  touch  alike  in- 
formed them  that  there  was  no  illusion. 

Jesus  Christ  had  the  same  body  after  his 
nrection  that  he  had  before.  The  sepul- 
chre  was  opened  and  the  sacred  body  it  con- 
tained arose.  After  his  resurrectfon  our  Lord 
said  to  his  disciples,  "Behold  my  hands  and 
my  feet,  that  it  is  I  myself."  To  unbelieving 
Thomas  be  .-aid,  "Reach  hither  thy  finger  and 


282      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

behold  my  hands  ;  and  reach  hither  thy  liana 
and  thrust  it  into  my  side  ;  and  be  not  faith- 
less, but  believing."  Christ's  risen  body  was 
the  same  as  his  dead  and  buried  body. 

Do  any  ask,  Why  did  not  Christ's  followers 
recognize  him  immediately?  In  at  least  one 
instance  "their  eyes  were  holden"  that  they 
should  not  know  him,  until  by  reasoning  with 
them  out  of  the  Scriptures,  he  had  satisfied 
them  that  he  " ought"  to  have  suffered  these 
things,  and  then  enter  into  his  glory.  And 
although  Christ  had  plainly  foretold  his  own 
death,  burial,  and  resurrection,  yet  through 
the  strange  power  of  unbelief,  his  disciples  did 
not  understand  or  receive  those  truths.  This 
error  was  not  wholly  removed  from  their 
minds  till  near  the  time  of  his  ascension. 
When  he  was  dead,  the  best  thing  they  could 
bring  their  feelings  to  say  was,  ' '  We  trusted 
that  it  had  been  he  which  should  have  re- 
deemed Israel."  Moreover,  in  a  mind  greatly 
afflicted  there  is  a  strange  unwillingness, 
amounting  almost  to  incapacity,  to  believe 
good  tidings.  It  looks  upon  any  very  good 
news  as  too  good  to  be  credited.  Luke 
tells  us  that  this  was  the  state  of  mind  in 
the  followers  of  Christ :  "  They  believed  not 


CHRIST'S   RESURRECTION.  283 

for  joy,  and  wondered."  Such  a  state  of  mind 
is  not  unusual,  as  might  easily  be  shown. 

Let  us  now  examine  the  evidence  by  which 
the  fact  of  Christ's  resurrection  is  established. 
Peter  says  :  "  God  .  .  .  showed  him  openly  ; 
not  to  all  the  people,  but  unto  witnesses  cho- 
sen before  of  God,  even  to  us,  who  did  eat 
and  drink  with  him  after  he  rose  from  the 
dead."  Acts  10:40,  41.  It  is  worthy  of  notice 
that  to  the  disciples  there  were  two  heav- 
enly witnesses  of  Christ's  resurrection.  Luke 
indeed  speaks  of  them  as  "two  men ...  in  shin- 
ing garments  ;"  but  John  expressly  says  they 
were  "two  angels  in  white."  Luke  24:4-6  ; 
John  20:12,  13.  These  elder  sons  of  God 
were  the  first,  and  they  were  fit  witnesses  of 
the  wonderful  event. 

Respecting  the  witnesses  of  Christ's  res- 
urrection, several  things  may  be  stated  : 

1.  Their  number  was  large,  between  five 
and  six  hundred;  From  the  days  of  Moses  to 
this  time,  the  most  enlightened  nations  have 
admitted  the  testimony  of  two  or  three  men. 
1 1  <  re  we  have  two  or  three  hundred  times  the 
number  of  witnesses  required  to  prove  even 
that  a  mother  killed  her  own  child.  Five 
or  six   hundred    witnesses   arc   as  good  as 


281      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

five  or  six  thousand.     The  number  is  suffi- 
cient. 

2.  The  witnesses  were  competent.  They 
had  the  use  of  all  their  senses,  and  they  had 
the  best  opportunities  of  obtaining  correct 
information.  Peter  says  the  witnesses  "did 
eat  and  drink  with  him  after  he  rose  from  the 
dead."  In  Acts  1:3,  Luke  says  that  4'he 
showed  himself  alive  after  his  passion  by 
many  infallible  proofs,  being  seen  of  them 
[the  apostles]  forty  days,  and  speaking  of  the 
things  pertaining  to  the  kingdom  of  God." 
So  that  the  witnesses  fearlessly  say,  "That 
which  we  have  heard,  which  we  have  seen 
with  our  eyes,  which  we  have  looked  upon 
and  our  hands  have  handled  of  the  Word  of 
life,  . . .  declare  we  unto  you."  1  John  1:1,  3. 
In  Scripture  are  mentioned  eleven  particular 
instances  in  which  our  Lord  was  seen  by  some 
or  all  of  these  witnesses. 

His  first  appearance  was  to  Mary  Magda- 
lene, who  at  first  mistook  him  for  the  gar- 
dener, and  to  whom  he  announced  his  early 
ascension  into  heaven,  Mark  16:9;  John 
20:14-17.  Christ's  second  appearance  was 
to  Mary  Magdalene,  and  Joanna,  and  Mary 
the  mother  of  James,  and  other  women,  who 


CHRIST'S  RESURRECTION.  285 

had  prepared  spices  to  embalm  his  sacred 
body.  Matt.  28 : 1-10  ;  Luke  24 : 1-12.  His 
third  appearance  was  to  the  two  disciples,  as 
they  went  into  the  country  on  their  way  to 
Emmaus.  Mark  16:12,  13  ;  Luke  24:13-35. 
He  was  afterwards  seen  bv  Peter,  1  Cor.  15  :5. 
He  was  afterwards  seen  by  James,  1  Cor.  15  : 7. 
He  was  then  seen  by  the  ten  apostles,  Thomas 
being  absent,  John  20:19-24.  Eight  days 
afterwards  he  was  seen  by  all  the  eleven  apos- 
tles, John  20:26-29.  He  was  next  seen  by 
his  disciples  at  the  sea  of  Tiberias.  There 
were  seven  apostles  present  on  that  occasion, 
John  21 :1-14.  He  was  also  seen  at  one  time 
by  more  than  five  hundred  brethren,  1  Cor. 
15:6.  Perhaps  it  was  on  this  occasion  that 
h€  ascended  to  heaven  in  the  sight  of  the  men 
of  Galilee.  Paul  also,  on  his  way  to  Damascus, 
perhaps  about  two  years  later,  saw  him  in  his 
resurrection  body,  and  conversed  with  him. 
In  these  interviews  with  his  disciples,  they 
had  every  opportunity  to  be  certified  of  his 
being  truly  the  risen  Saviour.  There  is  no 
sOn  to  believe  that  the  evangelists  have 
told  us  all  the  instances  in  which  Christ  was 
with  his  friends.  Both  John  and  Luke  would 
lead  us  to  this  conclusion,  John  20:30  ;  Acts 


286     THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

1 :3.  Christ  conversed  with  them.  The  pious 
women  held  his  feet  and  worshipped  him. 
These  witnesses  saw  him  walk  ;  they  heard 
his  arguments  and  his  reproofs  ;  they  saw  his 
wounds  ;  they  received  both  his  command  to 
spread  his  gospel,  and  his  blessing.  Infidelity 
itself  has  never  impugned  the  competency  of 
the  witnesses.  Their  testimony  was  not  built 
on  rumor,  on  the  report  of  others,  but  on  what 
was  submitted  to  their  own  senses  and  obser- 
vation. 

3.  The  testimony  of  these  witnesses  agrees. 
Some  mention  things  that  others  did  not  see 
or  hear  ;  but  all  agree  that  he  rose  from  the 
dead,  and  that  they  saw  him  in  his  resurrec- 
tion body.  There  is  no  contradiction  between 
the  witnesses.  They  agree  in  all  things  of 
which  they  speak.  The  early  infidels  labored 
to  find  out  some  contrariety  in  their  testimony, 
but  their  labors  were  a  singular  compound  of 
ignorance  and  malice. 

4.  The  witnesses,  by  lives  of  humility,  be- 
nevolence, uprightness,  and  self-denial,  proved 
that  they  were  good  men,  and  their  word  to 
be  relied  on.  There  is  an  almost  universal 
belief  that  the  apostles  were  pious  men,  and 
afraid  of  offending  God,  which  they  would 


CHKIST'S  RESURRECTION.  287 

have  done  by  fabricating  falsehood.  It  is  not 
even  pretended  that  any  of  them  ever  amassed 
fortunes  by  maintaining  that  Jesus  had  risen. 
They  lived  and  died  poor  men.  The  sublimest 
of  the  apostles  was  willingly  a  tent-maker. 
Jesus  forewarned  all  his  followers  that  adhe- 
rence to  him  was  the  highway  to  poverty. 
These  witnesses  too  were  banished,  stoned, 
slain  with  the  sword,  and  crucified.  They 
were  hated  of  all  men  ;  ignominy  was  heaped 
upon  them.  They  foresaw  it  would  be  so,  and 
they  were  not  disappointed.  They  were  not 
in  quest  of  fame,  or  ease,  or  pleasure.  They 
counted  it  joy  to  suffer  reproach  for  Christ. 
They  hailed  with  composure  the  fire  and  sword 
of  persecution.  "There  were  no  motives  to 
corrupt  them.  ...  It  is  evident  that  nothing 
desirable  in  this  world  had  the  least  influence 
on  the  apostles.     Nay,  on  the  contrary,  what- 

r  was  terrible  to  nature  discouraged  them. 
They  suffered  all  temporal  evils,  even  death 
itself,  for  this  testimony."  The  enemies  of 
Hie  Christian  religion  do  commonly  admit  all 
this.  The  way  of  weakening  this  testimony 
is,  by  such  insinuations  as  these  : 

1.  The  witnesses  were  unlettered  and  un- 
philosophical  men.     Suppose  this  were  true, 


288      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

it  would  not  prove  that  they  were  not  good 
witnesses.  Science  and  literature  do  not  qual- 
ify men  to  tell  the  truth  respecting  a  matter 
of  fact  occurring  before  their  faces.  But  men 
who  could  speak  all  the  languages  of  their 
times  ought  not  to  be  held  up  to  the  world  as 
liable  to  contempt  for  their  ignorance.  And 
men  who  have  revolutionized  the  moral  senti- 
ments of  mankind  must  have  had  something 
better  than  mere  science.  Such  men  were 
capable  of  being  witnesses. 

2.  Some  have  said  the  apostles  were  cred- 
ulous, and  so  are  not  worthy  of  confidence. 
But  the  whole  history  shows  that  they  were 
not  credulous.  Mark  says  they  "believed 
not."  Mark  16  :11.  Again,  on  the  next  dec- 
laration of  the  fact,  he  says:  "Neither  be- 
lieved they  them."  Mark  16:13.  Again: 
"He  appeared  unto  the  eleven  as  they  sat  at 
meat,  and  upbraided  them  with  their  unbelief 
and  hardness  of  heart,  because  they  believed 
not  them  which  had  seen  him  after  he  was 
risen."  Indeed,  Christ  often  reproved  their 
slowness  to  believe  on  this  point.  The  whole 
history  shows  that  they  were  not  credulous. 
Notice  here  the  unfairness  of  these  infidels. 
When  we  state  how  slow  Christ's  followers 


CHRIST'S  RESURRECTION.  289 

were  to  believe  his  resurrection,  some  say, 
Why  did  they  doubt,  if  the  evidence  was  good 
and  sufficient?  Then  when  we  give  the  rea- 
sons of  their  hesitancy,  and  show  that  finally 
the  evidence  was  complete  and  to  every  one 
satisfactory,  we  are  told  that  they  believed 
only  because  they  were  easy  of  belief.  One 
of  these  statements  destroys  the  other.  Nei- 
ther is  true. 

3.  But  some  have  said  that  the  witnesses 
in  this  case,  and  especially  the  apostles,  were 
fanatics,  and  therefore  not  to  be  believed. 
It  is  freely  admitted  that  a  well-established 
il) urge  of  fanaticism  must  impair  confidence 
in  any  testimony  ;  but  who  has  adduced  the 
slightest  evidence  of  the  truth  of  such  a  charge 
in  this  case  ?     It  is  no  evidence  of  wild  enthu- 

ii  to  believe  an  extraordinary  yet  possible 
thing  when  it  is  proven  to  us.  It  is  no  evi- 
dence of  fanaticism  to  say  that  we  are  wit- 
nesses of  what  we  thus  believe.  Fanaticism 
relies  on  impulses  and  unaccountable  impres- 
sions. It  pays  no  just  regard  to  evidence. 
But  the  apostles  appealed  to  well-known  facts. 
Tiny  said,  "  Ye  know"  so  and  so.  "These 
tilings   were   not  done  in  a  corner."     "We 

Ify  that  which  we  have  seen."     This  is  not 

Bock  of  8aL  1 )  { 


290      THE  EOCK  OF  OUK  SALVATION. 

the  language  of  madmen.  Fanatics  are  proud, 
and  boastful,  and  arrogant.  All  history  shows 
that  the  apostles  were  humble,  meek,  and  mod- 
est men.  They  avoid  all  needless  allusion  to 
themselves.  They  record  their  own  imper- 
fections. They  praise  not  themselves.  The 
chiefest  of  them  says  he  was  "not  worthy  to 
be  called  an  apostle  ;"  that  he  was  "  the  least 
of  all  saints;"  yea,  that  he  was  "  the  chief  of 
sinners."  Fanatics  could  never  have  sent 
forth  a  system  claiming  to  be  divine,  and  ac- 
companied with  such  evidences  as  to  deceive 
such  men  as  Milton,  Locke,  Boyle,  Bacon,  and 
Newton,  and  a  large  portion  of  the  most  en- 
lightened nations  of  the  earth,  for  the  last 
eighteen  hundred  years. 

But  it  is  worthy  of  notice  that  the  Jews  at 
first  generally  denied  Christ's  resurrection. 
They  said  that  while  the  soldiers  were  asleep, 
his  disciples  stole  away  his  body.  This  story 
cannot  be  believed  for  the  following  reasons  : 

1.  The  guard  at  the  sepulchre  was  unusu- 
ally large — as  large  as  Christ's  enemies  desired 
it  should  be.     Matt.  27 ;  65,  66. 

2.  It  is  wholly  incredible  that  a  guard,  a 
large  guard  of  Eoman  soldiers,  should  be  asleep 
on  their  posts.     The  season  of  the  year,  at 


CHRIST'S  RESURRECTION.  291 

least  during  the  night,  was  cool.     The  pen- 
alty for  falling  asleep  on  guard  was  death. 

3.  The  dead  body  of  our  Saviour  could 
have  done  nothing  in  producing  the  belief 
that  he  was  alive. 

4.  During  the  hours  that  Christ  lay  in  the 
sepulchre,  his  disciples  spent  their  time  very 
much  in  mourning  and  weeping.  Mark  16:10. 
It  is  incredible  that  this  company  of  unarmed, 
dispirited,  heart-broken  followers  of  Jesus 
Christ  should  have  laid  and  executed  a  plan 
to  rescue  the  precious  body  of  their  Lord  from 
a  trained  and  armed  soldiery. 

5.  The  testimony  of  these  soldiers,  as 
eventually  given,  was  wholly  incompetent ; 
for  it  related  to  a  fact  which  they  said  occur- 
red when  they  were  asleep. 

G.  Their  testimony,  as  first  given,  was  full 
and  satisfactory  in  favor  of  our  Lord's  resur- 
rection. Of  the  two  stories  they  gave  out  we 
are  at  full  liberty,  yea,  we  are  bound,  to  be- 
lieve the  one  that  they  told  without  "  large 
money." 

If  Je'sus  Christ  was  not  the  Son  of  God, 
and  did  not  rise  from  the  dead,  then  he  was  a 
gross  deceiver.  Nevertheless,  his  followers, 
in  tint  case  BO  cruelly  misled,  were  willing  to 


292      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

lay  down  their  lives  for  him.  Is  not  that  very- 
strange  ? 

If  Jesus  Christ  did  not  rise,  then  a  few 
men,  who  never  had  nor  claimed  any  political 
power,  any  fortune,  any  favor  with  civil  rulers, 
were  able  to  convince  hundreds  of  thousands 
of  Greeks,  Romans,  and  Hebrews,  that  one 
who  suffered  as  a  malefactor,  was  the  Saviour 
of  men,  and  yet  all  in  the  teeth  of  evidence  to 
the  contrary. 

If  Jesus  Christ  did  not  rise,  then  we  must 
believe  that  millions  have  "  madly  suffered 
imprisonments,  tortures,  and  crucifixions,  to 
spread  an  illusion." 

If  Jesus  Christ  did  not  rise,  then  it  is  true 
that  "  ten  thousand  miracles  were  wrought  in 
favor  of  falsehood." 

All  admit  that  Christ  died.  Yet  "his 
death  is  incomparably  a  greater  wonder  than 
his  resurrection."  Surely  it  is  less  to  be  ex- 
pected that  "the  Son  of  God,  who  originally 
possessed  immortality,  should  die,  than  that 
the  human  body  united  to  him  should  be 
raised  to  a  glorious  life."  "It  was  not  pos- 
sible" that  he  should  have  been  holden  of 
death.  Acts  2  :  24.  His  eternal  power  and 
godhead  forbade  it.     Divine  justice  required 


CHRIST'S  RESURRECTION.  293 

his  resurrection  that  his  innocence  might  be 
vindicated. 

Many  important  truths,  essential  to  the 
comfort  of  a  Christian  life,  are  suggested  and 
confirmed  by  this  discussion  : 

1.  The  resurrection  of  Jesus  Christ  incon- 
testably  proves  that  in  nothing  was  Jesus  an 
impostor. 

2.  Christ's  resurrection  clearly  manifests 
his  divinity  and  his  Sonship  with  God.  If  he 
raised  himself  from  the  dead,  he  must  have 
been  divine.  If  he  claimed  to  be  equal  with 
God,  and  the  Father  and  the  Spirit  coopera- 
ted in  his  resurrection,  then  he  was  equal 
with  God,  for  God  would  not  work  a  miracle 
to  establish  a  lie.  Paul  says  expressly  that 
he  was  ''declared  to  be  the  Son  of  God  with 
power,''  i.  e.,  in  a  powerful  manner,  "by  the 
resurrection  from  the  dead."     Rom.  1  :  4. 

3.  Christ's  resurrection  gave  ample  proof 
of  the  completeness  of  his  satisfaction  to  the 
law  and  justice  of  God.     So   Paul   argues  : 

Who  was  delivered  for  our  offences,  and  was 

raised  a  pi  in  for  our  justification. "  Rom.  4:25. 

•  Who  is  he  that  condemneth ?     It  is  Christ 

that  died,  yea  rather,  that  is  risen  again,  who 


294      THE  KOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

is  even  at  the  right  hand  of  God,  who  also 
maketh  intercession  for  us."  Rom.  8  :  34. 
Paul  says  "the  God  of  peace  . . .  brought  again 
from  the  dead  our  Lord  Jesus."  Heb.  13  :  20. 
lie  was  the  God  of  peace  because  his  justice 
had  been  fully  satisfied.  "  His  death  appeased 
God,  his  resurrection  assures  men. .  . .  Justice 
incensed,  exposed  him  to  death ;  and  justice 
appeased,  freed  him  from  the  dead." 

4.  If  Christ  rose  from  the  dead,  so  shall  his 
people.  ■*  Now  is  Christ,  risen  from  the  dead 
and  become  the  first-fruits  of  them  that  slept." 
1  Cor.  15  :  20.  He  is  "  the  first-born  from 
the  dead."  "If  we  believe  that  Jesus  died 
and  rose  again,  even  so  them  also  which  sleep 
in  Jesus  will  God  bring  with  him."  1  Thess. 
4:14.  "Our  Saviour's  victory  over  death 
was  obtained  by  dying,  his  triumph  by  rising 
again.  He  foiled  our  common  enemy  in  his 
own  territories,  the  grave."  We  shall  be 
raised  "in  the  likeness  of  his  resurrection." 
Rom.  6  :  5.  Our  vile  bodies  shall  be  fash- 
ioned like  unto  his  glorious  body.  Phil. 
3  :  21. 

5.  If  we  would  know  the  fulness  of  the 
blessings  of  eternal  life  hereafter,  we  must 
know  the  power  of  Christ's  resurrection  here. 


CHRIST'S  RESURRECTION.  295 

Phil.  3  :10.    One  of  Whitefield's  best  sermons 
is  on  this  subject. 

6.  On  the  fact  and  doctrine  of  Christ's 
resurrection  depend  all  our  hopes  for  eter- 
nity. So  the  apostles  taught.  1  Pet.  1:3,  4. 
There  is  no  room  for  doubt  here.  We  cannot 
yield  this  point  without  surrendering  all  that 
is  worth  contending  for. 

7.  How  wonderful  is  that  providence  of 
God,  which  permitted  death  to  come  by  man, 
and  which  arranged  that  by  man  also  should 
come  the  resurrection  of  the  dead.  1  Cor. 
15:21. 

8.  The  'Bible  is  true.  Christianity  is 
divine.  Its  author  was  the  Son  of  God. 
Obedience  to  him  is  required,  and  is  most 

-onable.  Will  you  believe  and  obey  the 
Son  of  God  ? 


296      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 


CHAPTEE   XYI. 

CHRIST'S  ASCENSION,  AND  SESSION  AT  GOD'S 
EIGHT  HAND. 

The  first  step  in  Christ's  exaltation  was 
his  resurrection ;  the  second,  his  ascension  to 
heaven  ;  the  third,  his  sitting  at  the  right 
hand  of  God.  Having  considered  the  first, 
let  us  now  meditate  on  the  other  two. 

I.    HIS  ASCENSION. 

1.  Our  Lord,  having  risen,  did  not  at  once 
ascend  to  heaven,  but  remained  on  earth  forty 
days.   Acts  1:3.     By  this  delay 

(1.)  He  would  give  his  followers  all  rea- 
sonable proof  of  his  humanity:  "Behold  my 
hands  and  my  feet,  that  it  is  I  myself :  handle 
me,  and  see ;  for  a  spirit  hath  not  flesh  and 
bones,  as  ye  see  me  have.  And  when  he  had 
thus  spoken,  he  showed  them  his  hands  and 
his  feet."  Luke  24  :  39,  40.  Long  after  his 
ascension  to  heaven,  the  last  surviving  apostle 
testifies  :  ' '  That  which  was  from  the  begin- 
ning, which  we  have  heard,  which  we  have 
seen  with  our  eyes,  which  we  have  looked 


CHKIST'S  ASCENSION.  297 

upon,  and  our  hands  have  handled,  of  the 
Word  of  life  . . .  declare  we  unto  you."  1  John 
1:1,3. 

(2.)  Christ  would  give  all  reasonable  sat- 
isfaction concerning  the  reality  of  his  resur- 
rection. This  he  did  many  ways,  calling  one 
poor  doubter  to  reach  forth  his  finger  and  be- 
hold his  hands,  and  to  reach  forth  his  hand, 
ini.l  thrust  it  into  his  side.  John  20 :  27.  In- 
deed he  showed  himself  alive  after  his  pas- 
sion, by  many  infallible  signs.     Acts  1 :  3. 

(3.)  Christ  remained  on  earth  a  season 
that  he  might  aid  his  disciples  in  recovering 
from  the  terrible  shock  which  their  faith  had 
received  at  the  crucifixion,  and  that  he  might 
further  confirm  and  instruct  them  in  the  na- 
ture and  things  of  his  kingdom.  "These  are 
the  words  which  I  spake  unto  you,  while  I 
was  yet  with  you,  that  all  things  must  be  ful- 
filled which  were  written  in  the  law  of  Moses, 
and  in  the  prophets,  and  in  the  psalms,  con- 
cerning me.  Then  opened  he  their  under- 
standing, that  they  might  understand  the 
Scriptures."    Luke  24:44,  45. 

2.  Prophecy  required  the  ascension  of  our 
Lord,  and  the  Scripture  cannot  be  broken.  So 

read,  "God  is  gone  up  with  a  shout,  the 
13* 


298      THE  BOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

Lord  with  the  sound  of  a  trumpet.77  Ps.  47 : 5. 
"Thou  hast  ascended  on  high,  thou  hast  led 
captivity  captive:  thou. hast  received  gifts  for 
men ;  yea,  for  the  rebellious  also,  that  the  Lord 
God  might  dwell  among  them.77  Ps.  68  :  18. 
Of  this  prediction  we  have  an  inspired  and  so 
an  infallible  interpretation  given  by  Paul  in 
Ephesians  4 :  8-13.  Daniel  foretold  the  same 
thing:  "I  saw  in  the  night  visions,  and,  be- 
hold, one  like  the  Son  of  man  came  with  the 
clouds  of  heaven,  and  came  to  the  Ancient  of 
days,  and  they  brought  him  near  before  him; 
and  there  was  given  him  dominion,  and  glory, 
and  a  kingdom,  that  all  people,  nations,  and 
languages  should  serve  him,77 etc.  Dan.  7:13,14. 

Our  Lord  himself  often  foretold  his  own 
ascension:  "I  go  unto  the  Father.77  John 
14 :  28.  "I  go  my  way  to  him  that  sent  me.77 
John  16:5.  See  also  John  1 :  51.  Much  more 
did  he  say  to  the  same  effect.  So  that  beyond 
all  doubt  several  predictions,  running  over  the 
space  of  at  least  a  thousand  years,  required 
that  Christ  should  ascend  to  Grod. 

3.  With  the  prophecy,  the  historic  record 
well  and  fully  agrees.  Neither  Matthew  nor 
John  in  the  gospels  bearing  their  names  record 
Christ7s  ascension.     Yet  it  is  declared  in  four 


CHRIST'S  ASCENSION. 

books  of  the  New  Testament,  The  testimony 
of  Mark  on  the  subject  is,  "  So  then,  after  the 
Lord  had  spoken  unto  them,  he  was  received 
up  into  heaven,  and  sat  on  the  right  hand  of 
God."  In  his  gospel  Luke  says,  "And  he  led 
them  out  as  far  as  to  Bethany,  and  he  lifted  up 
his  hands,  and  blessed  them.  And  it  came  to 
pass,  while  he  blessed  them,  he  was  parted 
from  them,  and  carried  up  into  heaven.  And 
they  worshipped  him,  and  returned  to  Jerusa- 
lem with  great  joy:  and  were  continually  in 
the  temple,  praising  and  blessing  God."  Luke 
24:50-53.  In  Acts  1:9-11,  we  read:  "And 
when  he  had  spoken  these  things,  while  they 
beheld,  he  was  taken  up ;  and  a  cloud  received 
him  out  of  their  sight.  And  while  they  looked 
steadfastly  towards  heaven  as  he  went  up,  be- 
hold two  men  stood  by  them  in  white  apparel ; 
which  also  said,  Ye  men  of  Galilee,  why  stand 
ye  gazing  up  into  heaven?  this  same  Jesus, 
which  is  taken  up  from  you  into  heaven,  shall 
so  come  in  like  manner  as  ye  have  seen  him 
go  into  heaven."  In  1  Timothy  3:16,  Paul 
aaya  be  was  "received  up  into  glory."  Thus 
the  record  agrees  with  the  prediction  and  ex- 
plain 

4.   On  the  southeast  side  of  Jerusalem, 


300      THE  KOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

and  separated  from  it  by  the  valley  of  the 
brook  Kidron,  is  a  mountain-ridge  running 
north  and  south.  Its  summit  is  about  half 
a  mile  from  the  wall  of  the  holy  city.  For 
many  thousand  years  it  has  been  famous  for 
its  olive-trees,  and  from  the  days  of  Samuel 
to  the  present  time  it  has  been  called  Olivet, 
or  the  Mount  of  Olives.  2  Sam.  15  :30.  Over 
this  David  fled  weeping,  as  he  retired  from  his 
palace  in  the  rebellion  of  Absalom.  The  road 
to  Jericho  and  the  Jordan  crosses  this  ridge. 
At  its  base  on  the  west  lay  the  ever-famous 
garden  of  G-ethsemane.  On  its  eastern  slope 
was  the  retired  village  of  Bethany,  so  often 
favored  with  the  presence  of  the  Saviour. 
Often  did  he  cross  Olivet.  This  mount,  which 
rises  about  two  hundred  feet  above  Jerusa- 
lem, is  chosen  by  Zechariah  either  as  the  place 
or  the  emblem  of  great  and  terrible  judgments. 
It  witnessed  many  of  the  wonders  and  mer- 
cies and  sufferings  of  our  Lord.  From  it  he 
ascended.  Tradition  attempts  to  mark  the 
spot  whence  he  arose  ;  but  all  this  is  uncer- 
tain. On  this  mount  he  had  beheld  the  holy 
city  and  wept  over  it.  At  its  base  he  had 
been  sorrowful  and  very  heavy;  yea,  "his 
sweat  was  as  it  were  great  drops  of  blood  fall- 


CHKIST'S  ASCENSION.  301 

ing  down  to  the  ground."  It  had  witnessed 
his  human  weakness  and  his  dreadful  suffer- 
ings. At  his  ascension,  it  witnessed  his  tri- 
umph and  amazing  glory.  Here  he  had'fought 
.vith  the  powers  of  darkness.  Here  he  now 
'  made  a  show  of  them  openly." 

5.  From  Olivet  Christ  ascended  to  heaven. 
His  going  to  heaven  is  expressly  said  to  have 
been  necessary:  "Whom  the  heaven  must 
receive  until  the  times  of  restitution  of  all 
things."  Acts  3:21.  God's  purpose,  the  truth 
of  prophecy,  and  the  fitness  of  things  required 
Christ's  ascension  into  heaven.  Mark  says: 
"He  was  received  up  into  heaven."  Luke 
3:  "He  .  .  .  was  carried  up  into  heaven." 
Christ  himself  says :  "  No  man  hath  ascended 
up  to  heaven,  but  he  that  came  clown  from 
heaven,  even  the  Son  of  man,  which  is.  in 
heaven."  John  3:13.  In  Acts  1 :11  we  have 
the  words  of  the  angels:  "This  same  Jesus 
which  is  taken  up  from  you  into  heaven  shall 
so  come  in  like  manner  as  ye  have  seen  him 
into  heaven."  Stephen  saw  "the  heavens 
opened,  and  the  Son  of  man  standing  on  the 
right  hand  of  God."  Paul  warns  masters  to 
!)«•  kind  and  gentle,  and  gives  this  as  ;i  rea- 
son,  "knowing  that  your  Master  also  is  in 


302     THE  BOCK  OF  OUE  SALVATION. 

heaven."  Eph.  6:9.  Again:  "  Our  conver- 
sation is  in  heaven,  from  whence  also  we  look 
for  the  Saviour,  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ."  Phil. 
3:20.  "Again:  "Christ  is  not  entered  into 
the  holy  places  made  with  hands,  which  are 
the  figures  of  the  true,  but  into  heaven  itself, 
now  to  appear  in  the  presence  of  God  for  us." 
Heb.  9:24.  Peter  also  says,  He  "is  gone 
into  heaven."  But  Paul  says  he  is  "made 
higher  than  the  heavens."  Heb.  7 :26.  This 
mode  of  speech  may  have  reference  to  the 
Jewish  idea  of  three  heavens — first  the  aerial 
heavens,  and  then  the  starry  heavens.  Christ 
is  made  higher  than  these  heavens,  and  has 
entered  the  third  heaven,  often  called  the 
heaven  of  heavens. 

6.  When  we  speak  of  Christ  ascending, 
we -speak  of  his  human  body  and  human  soul. 
His  divine  nature  fills,  and  has  always  filled, 
heaven  and  earth.  Essentially  it  fills  all  space, 
is  confined  to  no  place,  but  pervades  immen- 
sity. When  Christ  was  walking  here  on  earth, 
he  spoke  of  the  Son  of  man  as  being  then  in 
heaven.-  John  3:13.  At  all  times  this  was 
true  of  his  divine  nature,  and  of  it  only.  The 
effect  of  this  exaltation  on  the  human  nature 
of  Christ  was  not  to  annihilate  it,  not  to  subli- 


CHRIST'S  ASCENSION.  303 

mate  it  so  that  it  ceased  to  be  human  nature, 
but  to  glorify  it,  to  crown  it  with  glory  and 
honor.  When  Saul  of  Tarsus  saw  him,  soon 
after  his  ascension,  he  shone  with  a  lustre 
above  the  brightness  #of  the  sun.  The  vision 
produced  blindness,  which  was  miraculously 
healed.  About  sixty  years  later  John  saw 
him,  and  he  fell  at  his  feet  as  dead.  The 
ordinary  mode  of  explaining  this  wonderful 
change  in  the  appearance  of  Christ  is,  that 
while  he  was  here  on  earth  his  glory  was 
veiled.  At  his  transfiguration  the  veil  was 
taken  away,  and  his  raiment  became  white 
and  glistering.  In  heaven  there  is  no  veil, 
no  covering.  The  glory  shines  out  brightly, 
and  nothing  obscures  it. 

7.  The  manner  of  Christ's  ascension  is 
worthy  of  our  attention.  Christ  ascended  not 
figuratively^  but  literally;  not  spiritually,  but 
corporeally;  not  insensibly,  but  visibly.  His 
jiplea  >aw  him  ascend  to  heaven  as  clearly 
hey  saw  him  on  the  cross,  or  on  the  ship, 
<r  at  the  sea-side.  He  ascended  in  a  cloud. 
No  one  has  told  us  how  bright  that  cloud  was, 
or  what  was  its  appearance  ;  but  it  was  like 
the  cloud  in  which  he  will  come  to  judgment. 
Acts  1:11.     Nor  was  he   taken   away  sud- 


304      THE  BOCK  OF  OUB  SALVATION. 

denly.  He  was  seen  to  leave  the  earth,  and 
seen  for  some  time  after  he  left  it.  They 
gazed  upon  him  as  he  went  up.  His  ascen- 
sion was  triumphant.  Forty-three  days  be- 
fore he  had  ridden  into  Jerusalem  on  an  ass7 
colt.  He  now  ascends  triumphantly  into  the 
heavenly  Jerusalem.  He  left  the  world  speak- 
ing words  of  encouragement  and  benediction 
to  the  humble.  The  first  nine  sentences  of 
his  sermon  on  the  mount  began  with  the  word 
blessed.  The  last  thing  he  ever  did  on  earth 
was,  to  pronounce  a  blessing  on  his  people. 
His  ascension  to  heaven  was  every  way  glo- 
rious. His  appearance  was  doubtless  such. 
And  his  retinue  was  first  the  heavenly  host 
of  angels.  In  Acts  mention  is  made  of  but 
two  angels  having  been  seen.  But  the  proph- 
ecy which  expressly  foretells  his  ascension 
begins  by  saying,  "The  chariots  of  God  are 
twenty  thousand,  even  thousands  of  angels  ; 
the  Lord  is  among  them  as  in  Sinai,  in  the 
holy  place. ?;  Psa.  68:17.  Compare  verse  18 
and  Ephesians  4 : 8-12.  The  law  on  Sinai  was 
given  by  angels.  The  Saviour  shall  come  to 
judgment  with  his  angels  in  like  manner  as  he 
left  the  world.  Our  Lord's  ascension  was  ev- 
ery way  a  joyous  event,  and  was  so  regarded 


XT  GOD'S  RIGHT  HAND.  305 

by  his  disciples,  as  Luke  expressly  informs 
us.  It  was  the  blessed  fruit  of  his  sufferings 
and  obedience.  And  it  was  witnessed  by  a 
sufficient  number  of  competent  and  credible 
witnesses,  not  less  than  five  hundred.  1  Cor. 
15:6.  No  man  has  ever  suggested  a  plausi- 
ble pretext  for  any  one  saying  that  he  had 
seen  him  ascend,  unless  it  was  true. 

II.    HIS  SITTING  AT  THE  RIGHT  HAND  OF  GOD. 

This  is  the  third  measure  of  our  Lord's 
reward ;  the  third  step  in  his  exaltation. 

This  was  required  by  prophecy.  David 
had  said:  "The  Lord  said  unto  my  Lord,  Sit 
thou  at  my  right  hand,  until  I  make  thine 
enemies  thy  footstool."  Psa.  110:1.  Com- 
pare Luke  20:42;  Heb.  1:13.  Both  Peter 
and  Paul  prove  that  this  applies  to  Christ. 
Christ  himself  foretold  the  same  thing  when 
he  was  in  the  hands  of  his  murderers  r 
"Hereafter  shall  the  Son  of  man  sit  on 
the  right  hand  of  the  power  of  God."  Luke 
22*£9. 

This  session  at  the  right  hand  of  Ged  is 
modi  spoken  of  in  Scripture.     Mark  says,  he 

!  "ii  (he  right  band  of  God."  Paul  says, 
ftod  "set  him  at   his  own  right  hand  in  the 


306      THE  EOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

heavenly  places/'  Epli.  1:20.  Peter  says, 
he  "is  on  the  right  hand  of  God."  1  Pet. 
3  :  22. 

1.  The  question  then  arises,  What  is  the 
import  of  the  phrase,  "  sitting  at"  the  right 
hand?"  The  word  sitting  does  not  teach 
that  our  Lord's  body  is  always  in  a  sitting 
posture.  Indeed,  mere  posture  is  not  referred 
to  at  all.  Peter  and  Paul,  each  once,  simply 
say,  he  "  is  at  the  right  hand  of  God."  And 
Stephen,  dying,  saw  "the  Son  of  man  stand- 
ing on  the  right  hand  of  God."  Acts  7:56. 
Standing  is  a  posture  in  which  one  is  ready 
to  receive  another,  or  give  him  assistance. 
This  was  just  what  Stephen  needed. 

(1.)  The  first  thing  taught  by  Christ's  il  sit- 
ting at  the  right  hand  of  God"  is,  that  he  now 
has  quiet,  repose.  He  is  entered  into  his  rest. 
He  hath  ceased  from  his  own  works.  Thus 
says  Micah :  "  They  shall  sit  every  man  under 
his  vine  and  under  his  fig-tree ;  and  none  shall 
make  them  afraid."  Micah  4:4.  So  in  Eev- 
elation :  "  To  him  that  overcometh  will  I  grant 
to  sit  with  me  in  my  throne,  even  as  I  also 
overcame,  and  am  set  down  with  my  Father 
in  his  throne."  Rev.  3:21.  It  is  right  that 
after  toil  should  come  rest ;  after  war,  peace. 


AT  GOD'S  EIGHT  HAND.  307 

After  the  conflict,  both  Christ  and  his  people 
rest  from  their  labors  and  sorrows. 

(2.)  The  term  sitting  also  denotes  perma- 
nency of  abode  and  possession.  Thus  it  is 
said,  "Asher  continued  [literally,  sat]  on  the 
sea-shore,"  Judges  5:17;  that  is,  he  had  per- 
manent possession  of  that  country.  Christ 
has  rest  and  a  permanent  abode  and  a  right- 
ful possession  in  heaven. 

(3.)  Sitting  also  expresses  authority  and 
dominion.  "Sit  thou  at  my  right  hand,  until 
I  make  thine  enemies  thy  footstool,"  Psalm 
110  :1,  is  parallel  to  "  He  must  reign  till  he 
liath  put  all  enemies  under  his  feet."  1  Cor. 
15  :  25.  It  is  not  meet  that  the  king  should 
stand  in  the  presence  of  his  subjects,  even  of 
those  admitted  nearest  to  his  throne. 

(4.)  Sitting  is  also  a  fit  posture  for  a  judge. 
Solomon  speaks  of  "a  king  that  sitteth  in  the 
throne  of  judgment."  Prov.  20:8.  Speaking 
of  Christ,  Isaiah,  16 : 5,  says :  "In  mercy  shall 
the  throne  be  established  :  and  he  shall  sit 
upon  it  in  truth  in  the  tabernacle  of  David, 

ging,  and  seeking  judgment,  and  hasting 

righteousness."     And  he  shall  not  fail  nor  be 

1    till    he    have    set   judgment  in 

the  earth  j  yea,  "he  shall  judge  the  poor  of 


308      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

the  people,  he  shall  save  the  children  of  the 
needy,  and  shall  break  in  pieces  the  oppres- 
sor."    Ps.  72  :  4. 

2.  Sitting,  being,  or  standing  at  the  right 
hand  is  figurative.  God  has  no  bodily  parts. 
He  uses  such  language  in  condescension  to 
human  weakness.  The  figure  is  one  of  fre- 
quent use  in  the  Scriptures.  Jacob  put  his 
right  hand  on  the  head  of  Joseph's  .younger 
son  wittingly,  to  give  him  the  greater  blessing. 
In  Psalm  80  :  17  are  these  words  :  "  Let  thy 
hand  be  upon  the  man  of  thy  right"  hand, 
upon  the  son  of  man  whom  thou  madest  strong 
for  thyself."  What  is  the  import  of  the 
figure  ? 

(1.)  The  hands  are  the  chief  instruments 
of  human  bodily  power,  and  by  reason  of  use 
the  right  hand  is  commonly  the  stronger  of  the 
two.  It  is  a  fit  emblem  of  strength,  and  is  often 
used  to  denote  the  almighty  power  of  God. 
Thus  in  Moses'  song:  "Thy  right  hand,  0 
Lord,  is  become  glorious  in  power :  thy  right 
hand,  0  Lord,  hath  dashed  in  pieces  the  ene- 
my." Ex.  15  :  5.  So  Jesus  Christ  at  the 
right  hand  of  God  has  all  power.  He  is  able 
to  do  all  his  will. 

(2.)  With  the  right  hand  gifts  were  com- 


AT  GOD'S  RIGHT  HAND.  309 

monly  bestowed  and  received.  So  when  Christ 
ascended  up  on  high  he  received  gifts  for  men, 
and  for  himself  glory  and  dominion.  Eph.  4 :  8. 

(3.)  The  right  hand  of  regal  power  is  by 
men  esteemed  a  place  of  enjoyment.  As  such 
it  is  much  sought  after.  So  in  Psalm  16:11, 
which  much  relates  to  Christ,  we  read:  "In 
thy  presence  is  fulness  of  joy ;  at  thy  right 
hand  there  are  pleasures  for  evermore/'  Our 
Saviour  is  no  longer  "a  man  of  sorrows." 
Grief  reaches  him  no  more. 

(4.)  The  right  hand,  according  to  Hebrew 
ideas,  is  the  post  of  honor.  When  Solomon 
would  confer  peculiar  honor  on  his  mother  he 
caused  her  to  sit  on  the  right  hand  of  his 
throne.  1  Kings  2  :  19.  To  say  that  Christ  is 
on  the  right  hand  of  God  is  to  declare  that  he 
is  exalted  by  his  Father  to  great  dignity  and 
glory.  This  corresponds  with  the  declaration 
of  Paul  in  Philippians  2  : 9.  Our  translation  is, 
"  God  hath  highly  exalted  him."  The  Syriac 
is,  "God  hath  multiplied  his  sublimity."  The 
Arabic  is,  "  God  hath  heightened  him  with 
a  height."  Justin  renders  it,  "God  hath 
famously  exalted  him."  God  has  heard  his 
prayer  and  glorified  him  with  himself,  with  the 
glory  which  he  had  with  the  Father  before  the 


310      THE  ROOK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

world  was.  Yes,  "we  see  Jesus  crowned  with 
glory  and  honor."  John  17:5;  Heb.  2:9.  To 
a  higher  degree  of  rest,  and  rule,  and  bliss, 
and  favor,  and  power,  and  majesty,  Christ 
could  not  be  raised. 

In  this  glorious  state  Jesus  Christ  executes 
all  the  mediatorial  offices.  He  is  the  great 
Prophet  of  the  church.  With  him  is  the 
residue  of  the  Spirit.  By  his  Spirit  he  con- 
vinces the  world  of  sin,  of  righteousness,  and 
of  judgment.  We  may  not  say,  as  some  do, 
that  the  Spirit  was  purchased  by  Christ,  much 
less  that  he  is  the  minister  of  Christ.  The 
Holy  Ghost  is  "  free.'7  Ps.  51  :  12.  He  has 
no  guide  or  counsellor.  He  is  equal  with  the 
Father  and  the  Son.  He  is  sovereign  in  all 
his  acts.  1  Cor.  12  :  11.  He  cannot  be  pur- 
chased either  with  money,  or  tears,  or  blood. 
But  there  is  a  glorious  harmony  in  the  coun- 
sels of  the  Trinity.  The  Holy  Ghost  proceeds 
from  the  Father  and  the  Son.  There  is  no 
diversity  of  counsel  or  of  will  in  the  Godhead. 
On  the  day  of  Pentecost  Peter  said,  "Jesus, 
being  by  the  right  hand  of  God  exalted,  and 
having  received  of  the  Father  the  promise  of 
the  Holy  Grhost,  he  hath  shed  forth  this,  which 
ye  now  see  and  hear."    Acts  2  :  33.     So  the 


AT  GOD'S  EIGHT  HAND.  311 

Holy  G-host  is  the  Spirit  of  Christ.  He  en- 
lightens our  minds,  works  faith  in  us,  and  saves 
us.  Christ  also  raises  up,  qualifies,  and  sends 
forth  every  real,  genuine  gospel  minister.  He 
is  head  over  all  things  to  the  church. 

In  his  exalted  state  Christ  continues  to  be 
our  Priest.  He  makes,  indeed,  no  more  offer- 
ings ;  but  he  gloriously  intercedes  for  us.  The 
glory  of  his  intercession  may  be  learned  from 
these  facts  :  1.  The  person  of  the  intercessor 
is  ineffably  gracious  ;  2.  He  is  the  delight  of 
liis  Father  ;  3.  His  intercession  is  full  of  au- 
thority; 4.  It  always  prevails;  5.  It  is  alone  ; 
6.  It  continues  for  ever. 

In  his  exaltation  Christ  is  also  a  King.  In 
this  his  great  glory  is  :  1.  His  kingdom  is 
spiritual,  and  so  has  its  seat  in  the  hearts  of 
his  people.  2.  It  is  wholly  ordered  in  truth, 
and  equity,  and  righteousness.  3.  It  is  as 
stable  as  the  throne  of  God.  4.  It  is  for  ever 
and  ever. 

1.  We  have  a  right  to  expect  the  conver- 
sion of  all  God's  chosen.  Native  depravity 
and  long-continued  habits  of  sinning  may  seem 
to  render  a  change  of  heart  hopeless  ;  but 
because  Chi  fitting  at  God's  right  hand, 


312      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

his  people  shall  he  willing  in  the  day  of  his 
power.     Psa.  110:1,  3. 

2.  There  will  be  no  failure  in  the  comple- 
tion of  all  God's  plans  and  schemes:  "The 
Lord  at  thy  right  hand  shall  strike  through 
kings  in  the  day  of  his  wrath.  He  shall  judge 
among  the  heathen.  ...  He  shall  drink  of  the 
brook  in  the  way  :  therefore  shall  he  lift  up 
the  head."     Psa.  110:5-7. 

3.  The  church  is  safe.  Her  Head  is  ex- 
alted, and  he  loves  her,  and  bought  her  with 
his  blood.  He  has  graven  her  on  the  palms 
of  his  hands.  Her  success  depends  on  an  arm 
full  of  power,  on  grace  that  is  infinite,  on  inter- 
cession never  unavailing.  Humble  and  exclu- 
sive confidence  in  the  Captain  of  our  salvation 
can  never  be  disappointed. 

4.  To  what  a  glorious  state  believers  in 
Christ  are  rapidly  tending.  Heaven,  the 
heaven  of  heavens,  the  third  heaven,  para- 
dise, the  new  Jerusalem,  the  city  of  Glod,  are 
some  of  the  names  by  which  the  glory  of  the 
spirits  of  just  men  made  perfect  is  shadowed 
forth.  The  glory  of  that  blessed  world  is,  that 
the  Lamb  is  the  light  thereof.  We  shall  be 
like  him,  for  we  shall  see  him  as  he  is.  Our 
vile  bodies  shall  be  fashioned  like  unto  his 


AT  GOD'S  RIGHT  HAND.  313 

glorious  bod}'.     We  shall  be  for  ever  with 
the  Lord. 

5.  Hearty  and  universal  submission  and 
obedience  to  Christ  are  both  reasonable  and 
obligatory.  Submit  we  must,  either  joyfully 
unto  salvation,  or  reluctantly  unto  destruction. 
Now  men  may  affect,  and  even  feel,  contempt 
for  religion  and  its  Author :  but  those  are  shal- 
low thinkers  who  do  not  know  that  inconsid- 
erate courage  soon  gives  way  to  appalling  dis- 
may, while  sober  apprehension  prepares  the 
mind  for  the  worst.  No  cries  for  mercy  will 
be  more  loud,  no  shrieks  of  anguish  will  be 
more  piercing,  no  moanings  of  despair  will  be 
more  heart-rending,  than  those  uttered  at  the 
last  by  men  who  all  their  lives  made  light  of 
eternal  things.  If  you  are  yet  in  your  sins, 
one  of  two  things  is  true — either  your  con- 
nee  1$  at  perpetual  and  fearful  war  with 
your  practice,  or  you  have  embraced  some 
error  which  strips  life  of  dignity  and  death  of 
hope. 


14 


314     THE  EOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 
CHAPTEK  XVII. 

CHKIST  IN  HEAVEN. 

Pious  souls  feel  a  profound  interest  in  the 
person,  life,  and  glory  of  Christ.  Let  us  con- 
sider him  in  his  exaltation ;  and  the  benefits 
received  from  him  by  his  people. 

I.  Christ  in  his  exaltation. 

1.  His  exaltation  is  deserved.  He  has 
merited  all  the  honor  and  glory  he  has.  He 
is  the  only  one  who  has  in  the  highest  sense 
earned  all  that  he  has  received  of  God. 
Originally  possessed  of  infinite  perfection, 
and  freely  consenting  to  great  humiliation, 
his  merit  consists  in  his  perfect  obedience  to 
the  law,  and  in  his  bearing  its  curse  for  us. 
Holy  angels  have  never  sinned  against  God ; 
but  they  owed  all  the  obedience  they  have 
ever  rendered.  None  but  Christ  has  ever 
supererogated.  All  Christ  merited  for  us  was 
as  our  Mediator,  was  by  a  blessed  covenant 
with  his  Father,  and  was  through  the  gift  by 
grace,  which  has  abounded  unto  many.  Eom. 
5  :  15.  He  is  worthy  to  live  and  reign  for 
ever. 


CHRIST  IN  HEAVEN.  315 

2.  Christ's  life  is  immortal.  He  was  dead, 
but  he  dieth  no  more.  Rom  6:5.  He  says, 
"I  am  he  that  liveth,  and  was  dead;  and  be- 
hold I  am  alive  for  evermore."  Rev.  1:18. 
It  is  greatly  to  the  joy  of  the  child  of  God  that 
his  Saviour  can  be  spit  upon  no  more,  can  be 
wounded  no  more,  can  be  crucified  no  more, 
can  be  laid  in  the  sepulchre  no  more.  He 
hath  immortality. 

3.  Christ's  exaltation  is  very  glorious.  His 
Very  scars  are  resplendent  with  light  and 
radiance.  Soon  after  his  ascension  Saul  of 
Tarsus  saw  him,  and  his  light  was  above  the 
brightness  of  the  sun,  and  such  was  the  glory 
that  it  covered  the  persecutor's  eyes  with 
scales.  John  says,  "I  saw  ...  in  the  midst  of 
the  seven  candlesticks  one  like  unto  the  Son  of 
man,  clothed  with  a  garment  down  to  the  foot, 
and  girt  about  the. paps  with  a  golden  girdle. 
1 1  [fl  head  and  his  hairs  were  white  like  wool,  as 
white  as  snow  ;  and  his  eyes  were  as  a  flame 
of  lire  ;  and  his  feet  like  unto  fine  brass,  as  if 
Hhey  burned  in  a  furnace ;  and  his  voice  as  the 
sound  of  many  waters.  And  lie  had  in  his 
riirlit  hand  seven  stars  ;  and  out  of  his  mouth 

:  a  -harp  two-edifed  sword;  and  his  coun- 
tenance was  us  the  sub  shineth  in  his  strength. 


316      THE  EOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

And  when  I  saw  him,  I  fell  at  his  feet  as 
dead."  Eev.  1 :  12-17.  Among  all  the  bright 
objects  in  glory,  far  the  brightest  is  the  Son 
of  man,  the  Son  of  God,  our  great  deliverer. 
There  is  no  mistaking  him  for  another,  or  an- 
other for  him,  in  that  bright  world  above. 

4.  Christ's  exaltation  is  full  of  authority. 
He  has  the  keys  of  hell  and  of  death.  Rev. 
1:18.  On  his  vesture  and  on  his  thigh  is  a 
name  written — King  of  Kings,  and  Lord 
of  Lords.  Eev.  19:16.  He  is  far  above  all 
principality,  and  power,  and  might,  and  do- 
minion, and  every  name  that  is  named,  not 
only  in  this  world,  but  also  in  that  which  is 
to  come.  Eph.  1 :  21.  He  is  the  head  of  all 
principality  and  power.  Col.  2:10.  Indeed, 
before  his  ascension  he  said,  "All  power  is 
given  unto  me  in  heaven  and  in  earth."  Matt. 
28  :  18.  Blessed  be  God,  pur  Saviour  sways 
the  sceptre  of  universal  empire.  There  is 
none  above  him.  He  is  Lord  of  all.  He  has 
no  rivals.     He  shall  never  be  superseded. 

5.  And  yet  his  love  is  unchanged.  Great 
is  the  change  in  his  state ;  but  he  is  as  meek, 
as  lowly,  as  gentle,  as  tender-hearted  as  when 
he  gave  his  face  to  spitting  and  his  back  to  the 
smiter ;  as  when  he  cried,  "  Learn  of  me  ;"  as 


CHRIST  IN  HEAVEN.,  317 

when  he  set  a  little  child  as  the  model  he 
would  have  us  copy;  as  when  he  wept  at  the 
grave  of  Lazarus  ;  as  when  he  prayed  for  his 
own  murderers.  Change  of  state  has  not 
changed  his  heart,  his  love  to  his  people,  or 
his  pity  for  sinners. 

6.  Christ's  exaltation  is  full  of  holy  action. 
He  is  not  sunk  down  into  the  repose  so  much 
celebrated  in  Hindoo  theology.  His  rest,  like 
that  of  the  spirits  of  just  men  made  perfect,  is 
consistent  with  eternal  activity.  His  toils, 
and  sorrows,  and  weariness  are  over.  But  his 
energy  and  operations  remain. 

He  is  still  executing  the  offices  of  Prophet, 
Priest,  and  King.  No  man  knows  the  Father 
but  as  the  Son  reveals  him.  He  ever  liveth 
to  make  intercession  for  us.  "He  must  reign 
till  he  hath  put  all  enemies  under  his  feet." 
II*'  iceds.  and  guides,  and  protects  all  his  peo- 
ple He  is  the  Angel  that  leads  Israel  in  all 
the  wilderness,  and  in  the  heavenly  mansions. 

Wherever  and  whenever  a  sinner  is  made 
penitent  and  is  pardoned,  it  is  by  and  through 
him.     For  he  is  on  the  hill  of  Zion  to  grant 

entance  and  remission  of  sins.  He  leads 
his  chosen  like  a  flock.  He  gathers  the  lambs 
in  his  arm  and  carries  them  in  his  bosom. 


318      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

He  is  present  at  every  closet  of  secret 
devotion.  He  hears  all  our  weeping  and  sup- 
plications. He  says:  "I  will  not  leave  you 
comfortless  :  I  will  come  to  you.77  "He  that 
loveth  me  shall  be  loved  of  my  Father,  and 
I  will  love  him,  and  will  manifest  myself  to 
him." 

He  is  present  at  every  social  meeting  of 
his  people,  however  small  it  may  be.  Two  or 
three  are  enough  to'  claim  the  fulfilment  of  his 
promise.  Matt.  18  :*20.  To  all  such  gather- 
ings he  says,  "Whatsoever  ye  shall  ask  in 
my  name,  that  will  I  do,  that  the  Father 
may  be  glorified  in  the  Son.  If  ye  shall  ask 
any  thing  in  my  name,  I  will  do  it."  John 
14:13,14. 

He  is  no  less  present  at  all  our  solemn 
assemblies.  When  he  sent  forth  his  disciples 
to  preach  the  gospel  to  every  creature,  he 
said,  "Lo,  I  am  with  you  alway,  even  unto 
the  end  of  the  world."  Many  a  time  His  ser- 
vants have  failed  to  meet  their  appointments ; 
but  our  Lord  has  always  been  true  to  his 
word. 

He  is  always  ready  to  help  his  people  in 
their  temptations.  His  promise  is :  "  My  grace 
is  sufficient  for  thee."     Never,  in  any  case, 


CHEIST  IN  HEAYEN.  319 

does  he  fail  to  make  good  his  engagement.  A 
thousand  times  would  their  feet  slip,  and  their 
profession  be  covered  with  reproach,  but  for 
his  timely  aid  and  succor.  His  peace  is  their 
solace  when  Satan  roars.     John  14:27. 

He  is  also  with  his  chosen  in  sorrow.  Into 
deep  affliction  he  often  brings  them.  There 
for  a  long  time  he  often  keeps  them.  But 
never  does  he  leave  them  to  bear  their  sor- 
rows alone.  For  intrepid  consistency  in  fear- 
ing God  the  three  faithful  Hebrews  were  cast 
into  the  burning  fiery  furnace.  But  though 
its  intense  heat  consumed  those  who  cast  them 
in,  }^et  the  smell  of  fire  was  not  on  their  gar- 
ments. Not  a  hair  of  their  heads  was  singed. 
Nor  are  we  at  a  loss  to  account  for  their  pres- 
ervation. The  tyrant  of  Chaldea,  though  a 
heathen*  found  out  the  cause  of  their  preser- 
vation: "Then  Nebuchadnezzar  the  king  was 
astonished,  and  rose  up  in  haste,  and  spake, 
and  said  unto  his  counsellors,  Did  not  we  cast 
three  men  bound  into  the  midst  of  the  fire? 
They  answered  and  said  unto  the  king,  True,  0 
king.  1  le  answered  and  said,  Lo,  I  see  four  men 
■.  walking  in  the  midst  of  the  fire,  and  they 
have  no  hurt;  and  the  form  of  the  fourth  is 
like  the  Son  of  God."     Dan.  3:24,  25.     This 


320      THE  ROOK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

explains  the  whole  mystery,  not  only  of  this, 
but  of  all  cases  of  Christian  endurance.  The 
presence  of  Christ  shut  the  mouths  of  the  lions, 
that  they  hurt  not  Daniel.  It  made  Paul  and 
Silas  pray  in  the  jail  at  Philippi,  and  sing 
praises,  so  that  the  prisoners  heard  them. 
Ten  thousand  times  it  has  converted  deserts 
into  Bethels  and  dungeons  into  sanctuaries. 

The  Lord  Jesus  also  receives  all  departing 
saints.  He  said  he  would,  John  14:3;  and 
he  keeps  his  word.  Not  a  soul  of  a  believer 
passes  out  of  time  but  Jesus  does  for  it  what 
he  did  for  Stephen  in  his  dying  hour,  though 
he  does  not  always  before  death  give  like  full 
evidence  of  his  being  at  the  gate  of  heaven 
ready  to  put  forth  his  hand  and  take  in  his 
dove. 

Christ  is  also  building  the  heavenly  Jeru- 
salem. In  the  Divine  purpose,  this  blessed 
abode  was  prepared  from  the  foundation  of 
the  world.  So  also  has  its  location  long  since 
been  determined.  But  ever  since  his  ascen- 
sion, the  Redeemer  has  been  enlarging  and 
beautifying  it,  and  bringing  the  glory  of  the 
nations  into  it.  To  his  sorrowing  disciples 
he  said,  "I  go  to  prepare  a  place  for  you. 
And  if  I  go  and  prepare  a  place  for  you,  I 


CHKIST  IN  HEAVEN.  321 

will  come  again,  and  receive  you  unto  myself, 
that  where  I  am,  there  ye  may  be  also."  John 
14:2,  3.  In  a  sense,  the  works  of  creation 
were  finished  from  the  foundation  of  the  world. 
Heb.  4:3.  Yet  Providence  has  in  a  thousand 
ways  made  great  changes  here.  Had  sin  never 
entered,  there  is  no  telling  to  what  heights  of 
advancement  things  would  ere  this  have  been 
carried  on  our  globe.  As  there  is  no  sin 
in  heaven,  and  as  there  is  the  abode  of  the 
Redeemer,  and  as  there  is  the  city  of  the  liv- 
ing God,  we  know  not  what  its  glory  is.  Of 
this  city  we  know  some  things,  though  the  half 
is  not  told  us.  It  is  the  city  of  the  great  King. 
It  is  his  abode.  He  is  its  Builder  and  Maker. 
It  is  stable.  It  hath  foundations.  Heb.  11 :10. 
It  is  the  true  "Zion,  the  city  of  our  solemni- 
ties ....  Jerusalem,  a  quiet  habitation,  a  tab- 
ernacle that  shall  not  be  taken  down  ;  not  one 
of  the  stakes  thereof  shall  ever  be  removed, 
neither  shall  any  of  the  cords  thereof  be  bro- 
ken. I  Jut  there  the  glorio.us  Lord  will  be 
unto  us  a  place  of  broad  rivers  and  streams; 
wherein  shall  go  no  [enemy's]  galley  with  oars, 
neither  shall  gallant  ship  pass  thereby."  Isa. 
33:20,  21.  It  is  the  city  of  truth,  Zech.  8:3; 
the  perfection  of  beauty,  Lam.  2:15  ;  the  city 
14* 


322      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

of  praise  and  joy.  Jer.  49  :  25.  u  Great  is  the 
Lord,  and  greatly  to  be  praised  in  the  city  of 
our  God,  in  the  mountain  of  his  holiness. " 
Psa.  48:1.  It  is  the  city  of  righteousness. 
Isa.  1:26.  All  its  inhabitants  are  righteous. 
The  fearful,  and  unbelieving,  and  the  abom- 
inable, and  murderers,  and  whoremongers, 
and  sorcerers,  and  idolaters,  and  all  liars  are 
shut  out  of  its  pure  precincts.  Eev.  21 :8,  27. 
Inside  of  its  walls  are  no  sickness,  no  poverty, 
no  sorrow,  no  weeping,  no  tears,  no  crying, 
no  pain,  no  death,  no  curse.  Eev.  21 :4 ;  22  : 3. 
This  too  is  the  greatest  of  all  cities.  Babylon 
was  fifteen  miles  square  ;  but.  this  city  is  rep- 
resented as  twelve  thousand  furlongs,  or  fif- 
teen hundred  miles  square.  Eev.  21 :  16.  This 
is  the  capital  of  Immanuers  dominions,  that 
great  city,  the  holy  Jerusalem,  having  the 
glory  of  God.  Her  light  is  like  unto  a  stone 
most  precious,  even  like  a  jasper-stone,  clear 
as  crystal.  Eev.  21:10,  11.  The  walls  of 
this  city  can  never  be  scaled.  "The  length 
and  the  breadth  and  the  height  of  it  are  equal.7' 
Eev.  21 :16.  They  are  walls  of  salvation,  im- 
pregnable, girt  with  omnipotence.  Isa.  26:1. 
In  it  is  no  temple ;  for  the  Lord  God  Almighty 
and  the  Lamb  are  the  temple  of  it.     And  it 


CHEIST  IN  HEAVEN.  323 

has  no  need  of  the  sun,  neither  of  the  moon, 
to  shine  in  it:  for  the  glory  of  God  did  lighten 
it,  and  the  Lamb  is  the  light  thereof.  Nor  is 
it  a  desolate,  uninhabited  city ;  for  it  has  in  it 
the  nations  of  them  that  are  saved.  Nor  is  it 
a  poor,  mean  city ;  for  the  kings  of  the  earth 
do  bring  their  glory  and  honor  into  it.  Rev. 
21:22-24. 

II.  The  benefits  received  from  Christ  in 
his  exaltation.  These  are  expressed  very 
forcibly  in  the  last  gospel:  " Because  I  live, 
ye  shall  live  also."     John  14:19. 

1.  Because  he  lives  and  reigns,  all  who 
believe  shall  be  justified.  Now  if  any  rises 
up  to  condemn  us,  we  cry,  "It  is  Christ  that 
died,  yea  rather,  that  is  risen  again,  who 
is  even  at  the  right  hand  of  God,  who  also 
maketh  intercession  for  us."  Eom.  8 :  34.  As 
he  rose  from  the  dead,  so  are  believers  risen 
with  him  from  the  death  of  sin.  Col.  3:1.  He 
.si  i  not  down  at  the  right  hand  of  God,  till  he 
had  by  himself  purged  our  sins.  Heb.  1 :3.  As 
th<'  expiation  of  Christ  was  complete  and  per- 

SO  is  the  justification  of  all  who  have  fled 
to  him. 

2.  By  the  life  of  Christ  his  people  are  sanc- 
tified.   We  are  dead — dead  to  the  world,  dead 


324      THE  EOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

to  sin — and  our  life  is  hid  with  Christ  in  God. 
When  Christ,  who  is  our  life,  shall  appear, 
then  shall  we  also  appear  with  him  in  glory. 
Col.  3:3,  4.  Christ  is  made  of  God  unto  us 
sanctification.  1  Cor.  1:30.  The  Spirit  of 
Christ,  sent  into  our  hearts  by  the  Saviour, 
purifies  them.  In  so  doing,  he  puts  great 
honor  on  the  death  and  life  of  Christ  by  using 
them  as  means  and  motives  of  our  purification. 
Col.  3:1. 

3.  Sometimes  the  word  live  seems  to  be 
nearly  synonymous  with  being  happy;  as  where 
Paul  says,  "Now  we  live,  if  ye  stand  fast  in 
the  Lord."  1  Thess.  3:8.  So  we  live  and 
are  happy  because  Christ  lives  and  is  happy. 
He  is  beyond  the  reach  of  malice  or  misery. 
For  thousands  of  years  it  has  been  for  a  song 
in  Israel :  "  If  we  be  dead  with  him,  we  shall 
also  live  with  him :  if  we  suffer,  we  shall  also 
reign  with  him :  if  we  deny  him,  he  also  will 
deny  us:  if  we  believe  not,  yet  he  abideth 
faithful:  he  cannot  deny  himself.'7  2  Tim. 
2:11-13.  Though  we  see  him  not,  yet  be- 
lieving that  he  lives  and  is  blessed,  we  live 
and  rejoice  with  joy  unspeakable  and  full  of 
glory. 

4.  By  Christ's  present  glorious  life,  believ- 


CHRIST  IN  HEAVEN.  325 

ers  have  every  encouragement.  They  are 
fully  authorized  to  expect  that,  as  he  has  over- 
come and  sat  down  with  his  Father  on  his 
throne,  so  they  shall  overcome,  and  sit  down 
with  Christ  on  his  throne.  Rev.  3:21.  It  is 
a  reasonable  duty  and  a  great  help  to  look 
unto  Jesus,  and  to  consider  him  that  endured 
such  contradiction  of  sinners  against  himself, 
lest  we  be  wearied  and  faint  in  our  minds. 
All  good  hopes  spring  from  the  cross  and  cen- 
tre in  the  person  of  Christ. 

5.  By  Christ's  living  and  reigning  above, 
the  natural  life  of  believers  is  continued  and 
made  safe  as  long  as  is  on  the  whole  best. 
Each  child  of  God  is  immortal  till  his  work  is 
done.  The  very  hairs  of  his  head  are  all  num- 
bered. Every  believer  may  say  to  every 
persecutor  as  Christ  said  to  Pilate:  "Thou 
couldest  have  no  power  at  all  against  me,  ex- 
cept  it  were  given  thee  from  above."  John 
19:11.  Every  lion  is  chained.  Not  a  dog 
can  move  his  tongue  against  God's  people, 
unless  God  gives  permission.  Exod.  11:7. 
Daniel  never  spent  a  night  more  safely  than 
that  he  spent  in  the  lions'  den. 

G.  Jt  is  by  the  life  of  Christ  that  the  bod- 
ofall  his  people  shall  •»«'  raised  to  life1  and 


326      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

beauty.  So  teach  all  the  Scriptures:  "Thy 
dead  men  shall  live,  together  with  my  dead 
body  shall  they  arise.  Awake  and  sing,  ye 
that  dwell  in  dust :  for  thy  dew  is  as  the  dew 
of  herbs,  and  the  earth  shall  cast  out  the 
dead."  Isa.  26:19.  "Now  is  Christ  risen 
from  the  dead,  and  become  the  first-fruits  of 
them  that  slept."  "As  we  have  borne  the 
image  of  the  earthy,  we  shall  also  bear  the 
image  of  the  heavenly."  1  Cor.  15  :  20,  49. 
Christ's  resurrection  put  the  resurrection  of 
his  people  beyond  all  doubt.  Each  one  may 
shout  and  sing  :  "I  know  that  my  Redeemer 
liveth,  and  that  he  shall  stand  at  the  latter 
day  upon  the  earth  ;  and  though  after  my 
skin  worms  destroy  this  body,  yet  in  my  flesh 
shall  I  see  God  ;  whom  I  shall  see  for  myself." 
Job  19 :  25-27. 

7.  By  the  life  of  Christ  his  people  are  fully 
saved.  So  argues  blessed  Paul:  "While  we 
were  yet  sinners,  Christ  died  for  us.  Much 
more  then,  being  now  justified  by  his  blood, 
we  shall  be  saved  from  wrath  through  him. 
For  if  when  we  were  enemies,  we  were  recon- 
ciled to  God  by  the  death  of  his  Son ;  much 
more,  being  reconciled,  we  shall  be  saved  by 
his  life."     Rom.  5  :  8-10.     No  man  can  find 


CHKIST  IN  HEAVEN.  327 

in  mathematics  more  conclusive  and  irrefraga- 
ble argument  than  this. 

8.  Because  Christ  lives,  all  his  people  have 
and  shall  have  everlasting  life.  They  cannot 
be  condemned,  because  they  are  accepted  in 
the  Beloved.  They  cannot  be  overcome,  be- 
cause He  overcame.  They  cannot  fail  of  eter- 
nal life,  because  they  hold  their  title  to  it 
through  the  merits  of  him  that  sits  on  the 
throne.  If  they  could  fail  of  salvation,  Jesus 
would  fail  of  his  reward;  for  they  are  the 
purchase  of  his  agonies. 

1.  Humility  well  Tbecomes  the  saints.  They 
are  less  than  the  least  of  all  God's  mercies. 
In  themselves  they  are  poor  creatures,  yea, 
they  arc  nothing.  Christ  is  all.  He  is  their 
life.  It  is  easy  for  us  to  esteem  Christ  too 
little  and  ourselves  too  much  ;  but  it  is  not 
possible  for  us  to  think  too  much  of  him,  and 
too  little  of  ourselves.  In  a  life  of  faith  the 
more  we  think  of  Christ,  the  lower  do  we  put 
We  cannot  be  too  low  in  self- 
in.  The  Lord  giveth  grace  unto  the 
humble.     Wisdom  m  with  the  lowly. 

The  true,  blood-bought,  blood-washed 
church  of  God  is  safe.     She  is  loved  by  her 


328     THE  KOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

Eedeemer,  and  he  is  strong.  The  high  priest 
carried  the  names  of  the  twelve  tribes  in- 
scribed on  his  breastplate.  But  his  church 
is  graven  on  the  palms  of  the  hands  of  her 
Redeemer.  Isa.  49  :16.  If  a  dying  Saviour 
could  redeem,  a  living  Saviour  can  give  the 
victory. 

3.  The  ministers  of  Christ  have  a  peculiar 
interest  in  this  subject.  Let  them  hope  in 
him  for  ever.  Each  of  them  may  say  as 
Cyprian:  "While  I  oversee  the  church, 
Christ  oversees  me."  Most  of  the  promises 
personally  made  by  Christ  when  on  earth 
were  first  made  to  his  ministers,  and  through 
them  to  all  believers. 

4.  God's  people  are  truly  blessed.  With 
them  all  is  right.  Nothing  can  harm  them, 
nothing  can  destroy  them,  because  they  are  in 
Christ,  and  he  lives  for  ever.  If  they  die,  they 
sleep  in  Jesus.  If  they  leave  this  world,  they 
go  to  be  with  Jesus.  He  is  every  thing  to 
them.  A  pious,  sorrowful  widow  used  to  say, 
"Jesus  lives!"  Once  a  wretched  state  of 
nerves  and  a  sore  surprise  for  the  moment 
seemed  to  rob  her  of  courage,  and  she  burst 
into  tears.  Her  little  child,  who  knew  her 
habits  of  cheerfulness  and  the  ground  of  her 


CHRIST  IN  HEAVEN.  329 

courage,  recalled  her  to  her  trust  by  saying, 
"Mamma,  is  Jesus  dead?"  The  child  sup- 
posed nothing  could  go  wrong  in  life  if  Jesus 
lived.  The  mother  was  thus  reproved,  and 
regained  her  Christian  heroism.  So  blessed 
are  the  people  of  God,  that  even  in  this  world 
a  company  of  believers  could  not  in  a  day  or 
a  year  count  up  their  privileges. 

Some  time  since  a  number  of  eminent  ser- 
vants of  Christ  were  together,  and  each  one 
was  asked  to  repeat  as  sweet  a  text  of  Scrip- 
ture as  he  could  then  think  of.  One  said  : 
11  Into  you  therefore  which  believe  he  is  pre- 
cious.'* This  is,  indeed,  refreshing.  Another 
said,  "God  so  loved  the  world  that  he  gave  his 
only  begotten  Son,  that  whosoever  believeth  in 
him  should  not  perish,  but  have .  everlasting 
life."  What  an  eternal  rock  is  this  !  Another, 
since  gone  to  glory,  said:  "We  know  that  all 
things  work  together  for  good  to  them  that  love 
God,  to  .them  who  are  the  called  according  to 
his  purpose.'*  Another  gave  this  as  his  text : 
»d  is  love."  Another  this :  "  As  the  Father 
hath  loved  me,  even  so  have  I  loved  you." 
Another  said:  "Jesus  Christ,  the  same  yester- 
day, and  tonlay,  and  for  ever."  Such  a  string 
of  pearls  might  be  made  ten  times  as  long,  and 


330      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

yet  it  would  be  but  the  beginning  of  all  that 
Grocl  has  said  and  done  for  his  people. 

5.  But  how  sad  is  the  state  of  the  wicked. 
Instead  of  promises  and  assurances,  the  Scrip- 
tures are  full  of  woes  and  threatenings  to 
such,  saying,  "  They  shall  not  see  life  ;"  "God 
is  angry  with  the  wicked  every  day;"  that 
Christ  the  judge  of  all  will  say,  "Depart 
accursed ;"  that  the  Most  High  will  laugh  at 
their  calamity,  and  mock  when  their  fear  com- 
eth  ;  and  that  they  shall  endure  "the  wra.th 
of  the  Lamb."  The  Bible  gives  whole  chap- 
ters to  show  the  necessity  and  the  dreadful- 
ness  of  the  doom  of  impenitent  men.  See 
Ezek.  15  :  Isa.  14 :  Matt.  25.  Surely  the  wicked 
must  turn  or  burn ;  must  repent  now  or  mourn 
for  ever  ;  must  embrace  Christ  or  embrace 
death.  The  very  truths  and  principles  which 
secure  the  eternal  life  of  the  righteous,  make 
certain  the  eternal  death  of  the  wicked. 


CHRIST'S  PERSONAL  ABSENCE.       331 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

CHRIST'S  PERSONAL   ABSENCE    FROM    THIS 
WORLD. 

TnE  family  of  Christ  was  the  most  inter- 
esting society  that  ever  existed  on  earth. 
Most  of  its  members  were  remarkable  charac- 
:  and  the  head  of  this  household  was  the 
most  wonderful  person  that  ever  appeared  in 
any  world. 

In  such  a  brotherhood  we  should  look  for 
affecting  scenes.  Nor  are  we  disappointed. 
It  is  not  rash  to  say  that  the  last  interview, 
before  the  crucifixion,  between  Christ  and  his 
disciples,  was  as  tender  and  overpowering  as 
any  of  winch  the  human  mind  can  form  a  con- 

tion.  While  inspiration  employs  no  epi- 
thets to  characterize  it,  we  yet  have  the  Bufc- 
stance  of  what  was  said  and  done.  The  chief 
source  of  affliction  to  the  disciples  in  the  upper 
chamber^  where  for  the  last  time  they  celebra- 
ted tke  passover,  and  for  the  first  time  parr 
took  of  the  Lord's  supper,  was  the  prospect  of 
their  Master's  having  them.  To  prepare  their 
minds   for   thifi  event,  he  said  many  soothing 


332      THE  KOCK  OF  OUE  SALVATION. 

things,  yet  did  he  not  conceal  the  fact  of  his 
departure:  "I  go  away;"  "I  go  unto  my 
Father ;"  "I  tell  you  the  truth :  it  is  expedient 
for  you  that  I  go  away."   John  14 : 3, 12  ;  16:7. 

The  subject  of  Christ's  absence  from  the 
visible  church  is  in  many  respects  one  of  great 
interest,  and  has  always  been  made  to  hold  an 
important  place  in  Christian  doctrine,  and  in 
pious  meditations.  Their  belief  on  this  point 
greatly  affects  men's  comfort  and  efficiency. 

From  the  best  views  we  can  get,  it  is  clear 
that  it  was  in  itself  proper  that  our  Lord 
should  go  to  his  Father  when  he  did.  In  proof 
it  may  be  said — 

That  it  is  fit  and  right  that  honor  should 
succeed  faithful  and  eminent  service,  and  that 
the  highest  honors  should  follow  so  distin- 
guished services  as  those  rendered  by  Jesus 
Christ.  This  is  the  Scriptural  method  ot 
speaking  on  this  subject:  "When  thou  shalt 
make  his  soul  an  offering  for-  sin,  he  shall 
see  his  seed.  He  shall  prolong  his  days,  and 
the  pleasure  of  the  Lord  shall  prosper  in  his 
hand.  He  shall  see  the  travail  of  his  soul 
and  shall  be  satisfied."  Isa.  53  :10, 11.  Com- 
pare Phil.  2 : 7-9. 

It  was  right  that  Moses  after  serving  Grod 


CHRIST'S  PERSONAL  ABSENCE.       333 

and  his  generation,  should  enter  upon  his 
reward ;  but  Moses  was  a  mere  servant,  and 
an  imperfect  one  too.  He  owred  all  the  obe- 
dience he  ever  rendered.  But  Christ  was  a 
Son,  and  his  whole  work  wras  in  the  highest 
sense  voluntary.  Yet  in  the  form  of  a  ser- 
vant he  rendered  perfect  and  blameless  obe- 
dience.    He  never  once  failed.     Truly  did  he 

to  his  Father,  "I  have  glorified  thee  on 
the  earth."  He  brought  to  God  such  a  reve- 
nue of  honor  as  none  else  in  heaven  or  earth 
ever  did  or  can  do.  Well,  therefore,  might 
he  say,  "  Now,  0  Father,  glorify  thou  me :"  in 
the  presence  of  all  thy  creatures,  let  suitable 
honors  succeed  my  humiliation.  If  angels, 
who  owe  all  the  obedience  which  they  ren- 
der, are  crowned  with  heavenly  glory,  how 
much  more  proper  that  Christ  should  receive 
honor  and  glory  from  God.     If  he  who  so 

Eminently  merited  the  richest  gifts  of  God 
had  failed  to  receive  them,  how  could  poor 
Burners,  though  they  believe  in  him,  hope  for 
any  thing  good? 

Moreover,  ever  since  Christ's  incarnation, 
a  larLr<i  majority  of  his  real  people  have  been 
in  heaven,  and  it  seems  proper  that  as  their 
bliss  and  glory  are  in  and  through  Christ,  he 


334      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

should  be  personally  with  them,  and  by  his 
presence  make  them  glad.  From  the  days  of 
righteous  Abel  to  the  time  of  Christ,  there 
was  a  long  succession  of  pious  men,  who  be- 
lieved in  the  Redeemer,  and  walked  with  God. 
They  endured  much  for  his  name.  They 
loved  him.  They  saw  his  day  approaching 
and  rejoiced  in  it.  They  were  as  dear  to 
Christ  as  the  people  of  God  in  any  age  could 
be.  They  were  saved  by  his  blood.  And 
there  were  many  of  them.  Even  in  one  na- 
tion, and  when  there  was  a  great  apostacy, 
God  says  there  were  seven  thousand  who  had 
not  revolted  to  idol-worship.  What  number 
of  souls  before  Christ's  birth  were  saved,  none 
can  tell ;  but  beyond  a  doubt  far  more  of  the 
redeemed  have  for  long  centuries  been  in 
heaven  than  have  been  living  on  the  earth  at 
any  one  time.  Is  it  not  proper  that  the  great 
body  of  Christ's  followers,  who  are  in  heaven, 
should  enjoy  his  personal  presence?  Is  he 
not  their  light  and  life  and  glory?  Is  he  not 
the  admiration  of  all  his  saints  ?  Yes  ;  the 
Lamb  is  the  light  of  that  bright  world.  His 
presence  fills  it  with  radiance  and  effulgence. 
His  ascension  brought  to  it  a  vast  accession  of 
gladness.    It  may  then  be  asked,  Would  it  be 


CHRIST'S  PERSONAL  ABSENCE.       335 

proper  that  we  upon  earth,  a  mere  handful, 
should  have  his  bodily  presence,  while  all 
heaven  should  be  left  without  it?  Blinded  as 
we  are  by  ignorance  and  sin,  even  we  may  see 
a  fitness  in  this  arrangement.  Surely  it  is 
right  that  the  great  cloud  of  witnesses,  who 
have,  in  ages  of  darkness  long  gone  by,  stood 
in  their  lot  and  fought  the  good  fight,  should 
have  with  them  the  great  Captain  of  salva- 
tion and  rejoice  in  his  fulness  and  glory,  even 
though  we,  who  for  the  trial  of  our  faith  remain 
on  the  earth,  should  be  deprived  of  his  bles- 
sed presence. 

Besides,  it  seems  proper  that  one  having 
so  vast  dominions  should  dwell  in  the  capital 
of  his  empire.  Christ's  authority  and  govern- 
ment are  over  all  creatures  and  all  worlds. 
This  earth  is  a  mere  speck  in  creation.  It 
probably  constitutes  not  a  millionth  part  of 
the  intelligent  universe.  Since  sin  has  en- 
tered, this  world  has  become  peculiarly  unfit 
for  the  residence  of  any  one  in  a  glorified 
Much  less  is  it  suited  to  be  the  great 
centre  of  Influences  in  the  kingdom  of  God. 
When  Christ  \va<  in  the  world,  it  was  in  a 
way  of  voluntary  exile  from  his  proper  home 
and  country.     One  thing  we  know:  he  has 


336      THE  BOCK  OF  OUE  SALVATION. 

chosen  another  part  of  the  universe  for  the 
seat  of  his  throne  ;  having  fixed  the  centre  of 
his  kingdom  there,  it  is  right  that  he  should 
not  seem  to  desert  it. 

It  is  also  expedient  for  Christ's  people  on 
earth  that  he  should  not  be  in  this  world,  but 
in  heaven.  Suppose  that  he  were  here  ;  he 
must  be  here  either  in  glory  or  in  humiliation ; 
either  bearing  the  signs  of  majesty  and  divin- 
ity which  now  attend  him  in  heaven,  or  in  ap- 
parent weakness,  his  godhead  covered  with  a 
thick  veil,  and  himself  appearing  much  like 
other  men.  If  here  in  glory,  who  could  abide 
his  coming  ?  His  brightness  is  intolerable  to 
the  eyes  of  mortals.  Even  when  Moses  had 
been  in  the  mount  but  forty  days,  conversing 
with  God  and  beholding  his  glory,  his  counte- 
nance acquired  such  brightness  that  upon  his 
coming  amoug  the  people  it  was  necessary 
that  he  should  put  a  veil  upon  his  face.  They 
could  not  look  upon  him.  Yet  Moses  was  a 
mere  man,  and  a  sinful  man  too.  How  then 
could  we,  with  open  face,  behold  the  King  in 
his  glory  ?  Isaiah  saw  Him  in  a  vision  before 
His  incarnation,  and.  the  sight  so  overpowered 
him  as  to  make  him  cry  out,  "  Woe  is  me,  for 
I  am  undone  ;  because  I  am  a  man  of  unclean 


CHRIST'S  PERSONAL  ABSENCE.      337 

lips,  and  I  dwell  in  the  midst  of  a  people  of 
unclean  lips:  for  mine  eyes  have  seen  the 
king,  the  Lord  of  hosts."  Isa.  G:5;  John 
12  :41.  When  Christ  was  transfigured  before 
his  disciples,  and  his  raiment  became  shining, 
even  his  most  intimate  friends  who  were  pres- 
ent became  "sore  afraid,"  so  much  so  that  Mark 
says  Peter  "knew  not  what  to  say."  If  the 
transfiguration  produced  such  terror  even  on 
bosom  friends,  how  could  the  mass  of  men, 

u  of  good  men,  while  in  the  body,  endure 
his  divine  effulgence  ? 

From  these  and  like  known  facts,  it  is  ap- 
parent that  a  full  vision  of  Christ's  unveiled 
glory  would  not  be  to  us,  in  our  present  state, 
tolerable.  In  his  History  of  Redemption, 
Edwards  properly  says:  "  It  is  not  to  be 
supposed  that  any  man  could  subsist  under  a 
k-iLrlit  of  the  glory  of  Christ's  human  nature  as 
it  now  appears."  At  such  a  vision  we  should, 
Ijke  Saul  of  Tarsus,  become  blind  ;  or  like 
John,  as  dead  men.  Should  Christ,  therefore, 
be  personally  present  on  earth  for  our  good,  it 
could  not  be  in  his  glorified  condition,  but  in 
Mr  of  humiliation.  And  is  it  right  that 
the  Son  of  God  should  again  humble  himself 
and   a— wine   the   form  of  a  servant?     If  lie 

BorkofJUl.  15 


338      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

should  reappear  in  a  lowly  state  on  earth, 
where  would  be  the  assurance  that  his  faithful 
followers  shall  ever  be  glorified?  The  ser- 
vant may  not  expect  more  honor  than  the 
Master ;  the  disciple  will  not  rise  higher  than 
his  Lord.  How  then  could  we  believe  that 
our  glorification  should  ever  come  and  never 
cease,  if  Christ  should  be  brought  back  to 
earth  in  a  lowly  condition?  Yerily  it  is  ex- 
pedient for  us  that  Christ,  having  overcome, 
should  sit  down  on  his  Father's  throne,  and 
thus  certify  us  that  when  we  shall  have  over- 
come we  shall  sit  down  with  him  on  his  throne. 
Nor  is  this  all.  If  Christ  were  here  in 
person,  that  is,  in  his  human  nature,  in  any 
state  in  which  we  could  bear  his  presence,  it 
is  evident  that  he  could  not  be  everywhere  on 
earth  at  once.  Ubiquity  belongs  not  to  man- 
hood in  any  state.  Christ's  human  nature 
possesses  not  the  attribute  of  omnipresence. 
If  then  he  were  here,  he  must  at  any  one  time 
be  in  some  particular  place  in  a  sense  in 
which  he  could  not  be  in  other  places.  Then, 
in  order  to  enjoy  his  bodily  presence,  the 
whole  church  must  be  assembled  in  one  spot 
or  vicinity,  and  thus  the  perishing  nations 
would  be  left  without  the  light  of  holy  exam- 


CHRIST'S  PERSONAL  ABSENCE        339 

pies  and  gospel  preaching  ;  or  the  Saviour 
would  of  necessity  travel  over  the  earth,  vis- 
iting every  portion  of  the  world  ;  and  even 
then  many  of  his  devoted  followers  would 
never  see  him.  The  sick,  and  the  poor,  and 
the  prisoner  would  be  among  the  less  favored 
of  his  followers.  Thus  would  be  created  con- 
tinual dissatisfaction  in  the  church,  some  think- 
ing one  place  too  highly  favored,  and  others 
neglected.  Indeed  it  is  very  probable  that, 
blind  as  we  are,  all  the  pious  now  feel  the 
Saviour  to  be  nearer  to  them  than  they  would 
if  he  were  anywhere  upon  earth.  Is  not  this 
view  of  the  matter  just  and  important? 

There  is  still  another  thought  upon  this 
subject.  The  absence  of  our  Saviour  is  the 
means  of  furnishing  an  excellent  test  of  char- 
acter. In  the  parable  of  the  talents,  our  Lord 
seems  to  teach  this  doctrine.  He  represents 
himself  as  one  "  travelling  into  a  far  country," 
and  "after  a  long  time  coming  and  reckoning 
with  his  servants."  In  this  way  all  motives 
except  those  arising  from  genuine  love  to  him 
lost  their  force;  and  if  his  servants  were  not 
sound  at  heart,  they  would  evince  their  true 
character  by  disregarding  his  will ;  and  if  they 
really  loved  him,  their  devotion  to  his  inter- 


340      THE  BOCK  OF  OUE  SALVATION. 

ests  would  not  die  out  as  he  left  them.  Eye- 
servants  are  often  very  industrious  when  their 
master  is  looking  on  ;  but  faithful  servants 
are  governed  by  higher  principles.  Their 
controlling  purpose  is  to  do  right,  whether 
they  are  applauded,  or  neglected,  or  blamed. 
Our  Lord  alludes  to  this  matter  when  he  says, 
"  Blessed  are  those  servants  whom  the  lord, 
when  he  cometh,  shall  find  watching  ;  verily 
I  say  unto  you  that  he  shall  gird  himself,  and 
make  them  to  sit  down  to  meat,  and  will  come 
forth  and  serve  them ....  But  and  if  that  ser- 
vant say  in  his  heart,  My  lord  delayeth  his  com- 
ing, and  shall  begin  to  beat  the  men-servants 
and  maidens,  and  to  eat  and  drink  and  to  be 
drunken,  the  lord  of  that  servant  will  come  in 
a  day  when  he  looketh  not  for  him,  and  at  an 
hour  when  he  is  not  aware,  and  will  cut  him 
in  sunder,  and  will  appoint  him  his  portion  with 
the  unbelievers."  Luke  12:37,  45,  46.  No 
man  ever  loved  Christ  who  did  not  love  him 
present  or  absent ;  and  all  must  admit  that 
cheerful  and  uniform  obedience  to  him  in  his 
absence  is  to  us  and  to  our  neighbors  the  best 
proof  we  can  give  of  sincere  attachment  to  his 
cause  and  his  person. 
m       Furthermore,  if  Christ  were   here   upon 


CHRIST'S  PERSONAL  ABSENCE.      341 

earth  in  an  humble  state,  would  not  the  feel- 
ings of  his  people  be  continually  mortified  and 
deeply  wounded  by  the  direct  insults  and  per- 
sonal indignities  offered  him  by  his  foes?  The 
world  is  in  no  better  humorwith  holiness  than 
it  ever  was.  Christ's  presence  on  earth  would 
be  a  continual  and  sharp  rebuke  to  the  abound- 
ing wickedness  of  every  age  and  country ;  and 
those  who  are  in  love  with  sin,  and  deter- 
mined not  to  forsake  it,  would  bear  reproof 
no  better  now  than  formerly.  To  a  good  man, 
what  could  be  more  trying  than  to  have  con- 
tinual slanders  uttered  respecting  the  daily 
conduct  of  his  Saviour,  and  to  know  that 
wicked  conspiracies  were  constantly  forming 
against  his  person  ?  Even  if  all  plots  should 
be  defeated  by  miracle  or  otherwise,  it  would 
still  keep  the  church  in  deep  distress  to  wit- 
ness fearful  exhibitions  of  deadly  malice  against 
the  Beloved.  Or  if  the  Lord  were  here  and 
invulnerable,  his  friends  would  be  subjected 
to  unusual  and  dreadful  persecutions  for  cleav- 
ing to  One  whose  light  terribly  condemned 
the  world.  Now  the  Christian  rejoices  that, 
however  malevolence  may  vent  itself  against 
Christ,  he  is  for  ever  beyond  its  reach.  May 
not  this  explain  what  lie  means  by  that  say- 


342      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

ing,  "If  ye  loved  me,  ye  would  rejoice  because 
I  said,  I  go  unto  the  Father  ?"  John  14 :28. 
Again,  in  Christ's  absence  faith  has  full 
scope  for  exercise ;  whereas,  were  he  present 
we  should  walk  somewhat  at  least  by  sense, 
and  not  by  faith  only.  •  Any  arrangement 
friendly  to  the  vigorous  growth  of  faith  is 
advantageous  to  the  pious.  It  was,  indeed,  a 
great  privilege  to  be  able  with  the  disciples 
to  say:  "We  have  seen  with  our  eyes,  .  .  . 
and  our  hands  have  handled  of  the  Word  of 
life."  Compared  with  ages  preceding,  the  life- 
time of  our  Saviour  afforded  great  privileges 
to  the  godly.  Nor  is  it  asserted  that  faith 
and  sight  necessarily  destroy  each  other ;  but 
we  may  say  that  faith  has  now  fewer  obstacles 
to  overcome  than  if  Christ  were  here.  For 
then  it  would  not  be  easy  to  separate,  or  even 
distinguish  emotions  awakened  by  sight  from 
those  which  spring  from  a  living  faith.  In  the 
days  of  our  Lord's  flesh  many,  moved  by  what 
they  saw,  outwardly  became  his  followers. 
Though  they  had  no  pious  confidence  in  him, 
nor  reliance  on  him,  yet  they  mistook  their 
strong  feelings  for  true  piety ;  but  the  root  of 
the  matter  was  not  in  them.  Under  one  pun- 
gent discourse  many  such  forsook  him.     John 


CHRIST'S  PERSONAL  ABSENCE.       343 

6  :  66.  It  is  indeed  true  that  the  distance  of 
the  sun  makes  hiin  appear  to  us  very  small ; 
but  by  the  aid  of  science,  we  learn  his  dimen- 
sions and  know  his  vastness.  Now  faith  is 
"divine  reason,"  as  Leigh  ton  calls  it.  It  cor- 
rects the  errors  of  sense.  It  teaches  us  firmly 
to  believe,  and  on  the  best  grounds — the  word 
of  God — that  the  Sun  of  Eighteousness  is  far 
more  glorious  than  we  can  conceive ;  and  of 
course  more  glorious  than  we  could  possibly 
apprehend  by  our  senses-  Foster  well  says 
that  it  is  "  evident  that  to  see  the  Messiah  in 
his  personal  manifestation  was  a  mode  of  con- 
templating him  very  inferior,  for  the  excite- 
ment of  the  sublimer  kind  of  affection,  to  that 
which  we  have  to  exercise  by  faith.  It  is 
true  that  to  those  who  regard  him  as  nothing 
more  than  a  man,  all  this  will  appear  imperti- 
nent and  fantastic.  But  those  who  solemnly 
believe  that  their  salvation  depends  on  his 
being  infinitely  more,  will  feel  the  importance 
of  all  that  gives  scope  to  their  faculties  for 
magnifying  the  idea  of  their  Redeemer."  Now 
that  he  is  in  heaven  "we  have^no  exact  and 
invariable  image,  placing  him  before  us  as  a 
■on  (hat  we  know;  exhibiting  him  in  the 
mere    ordinary    predicament   of    humanity." 


344      THE  KOCK  OF  OUE  SALVATION. 

Now  "we  can  with  somewhat  more  facility 
give  our  thoughts  an  unfimited  enlargement 
in  contemplating  his  sublime  character.  Thus 
also  we  are  left  in  greater  freedom  in  the 
effort  to  form  some  grand  though  glimmering 
idea  of  him  as  possessing  a  glorious  body, 
assumed  after  his  victory  over  death.  Our 
freedom  of  thought  is  more  entire  for  array- 
ing the  exalted  Mediator  in  every  glory  which 
speculation,  imagination,  devotion  can  com- 
bine to  shadow  forth  the  magnificence  of  such 
an  adored  object." 

Our  Saviour  himself  has  pronounced  a 
special  blessing  on  those  who  believe  without 
sight.  To  Thomas  he  said,  "Because  thou 
hast  seen,  thou  hast  believed  :  blessed  are 
they  that  have  not  seen,  and  yet  have  be- 
lieved.7' This  settles  the  point.  We  may 
fearlessly  assert  that  the  present  arrange- 
ment is  more  advantageous  to  believers,  how- 
ever weak  their  faith,  than  if  our  Lord  had 
continued  on  earth  after  his  resurrection,  or 
were  now  to  return  again  to  this  world. 

We  should  not  forget  that  no  carnal  view 
of  Christ  is  profitable  to  the  soul.  Thou- 
sands saw  him,  conversed  with  him,  travelled 
with  him,  ate  with  him,  heard  his  sermons, 


CHRIST'S  PERSONAL  ABSENCE.       345 

witnessed  his  miracles,  and  were  as  little 
profited  as  if  he  had  been  a  common  man. 
It  is  a  remarkable  fact  that  no  picture  of  our 
Saviour  was  ever  taken,  fables  to  the  con- 
trary notwithstanding,  and  that  we  have  no 
reliable  description  of  his  stature,  of  his 
figure,  of  his  gait,  of  his  complexion,  or  of 
any  thing  respecting  his  personal  appearance. 
The  Bible  says,  "his  visage  was  so  marred 
more  than  any  man,  and  his  form  more  than 
the  sons  of  men ;"  and  there  it  leaves  the  mat- 
ter, as  if  to  warn  us  not  to  indulge  in  carnal 
thoughts  of  him. 

If  an  artist  should  give  to  the  church  a 
perfect  likeness  of  our  Saviour,  as  he  appeared 
in  the  days  of  his  flesh,  he  might  indeed  lead 
many  into  idolatry ;  but  he  would  render  no 
real  service  to  any  true  believer.  It  is  as 
true  of  the  Son  as  of  the  Father  that  he  who 
worships  him  must  worship  him  in  spirit. 
Does  any  one  seriously  believe  that  our  spir- 
itual conceptions  of  the  glory  and  grace  of 
Christ  would  be  in  the  least  aided  by  the 
knowledge  of  any  thing  respecting  his  out- 
ward appearance  as  a  man? 

It  is  enough  for  us  to  know  that  the  Son 
of  man  is  glorified,  and  that  he  shines  with  a 

15* 


346      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

brightness  above  the  brightness  of  the  sun. 
His  is  a  "glorious  body." 

Nor  should  we  forget  that  our  Saviour 
assigns  yet  other  reasons  for  leaving  his  disci- 
ples :  "  I  go  to  prepare  a  place  for  you;"  "  I 
tell  you  the  truth :  it  is  expedient  for  you  that 
I  go  away ;  for  if  I  go  not  away,  the  Comforter 
will  not  come  unto  you;  but  if  I  depart,  I 
will  send  him  unto  you."  John  14:2;  16:7. 
The  great  promise  of  a  copious  descent  of  the 
Spirit  is  in  importance  second  to  none  ever 
made.  The  Holy  Ghost  is  God,  has  all  divine 
perfections,  has  never  been  incarnate,  works  in 
the  church  unseen,  yet  mightily.  He  is  essen- 
tially everywhere  present,  he  is  infinitely  lov- 
ing and  tender,  and  in  all  respects  suited  to 
apply  the  work  of  redemption.  He  comes  not 
to  speak  of  himself,  but  he  takes  of  the  things 
of  Christ,  and  shows  them.  He  glorifies  Christ. 
John  16: 13-15. 

Should  any  inquire  why  Christ's  abode  on 
earth  was  inconsistent  with  the  abundant  gra- 
cious presence  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  we  might, 
perhaps,  without  irreverence,  assign  certain 
reasons  of  fitness  in  the  case,  drawn  from  the 
nature  of  things.  We  might  dwell  upon  the 
fact  that  the  word  Comforter  and  the  word 


CHRIST'S  PERSONAL  ABSENCE.       347 

Advocate  are  in  the  original  the  same  word, 
that  both  the  second  and  the  third  persons  of 
the  Trinity  are  called  Advocates  or  Comfort- 
ers, and  both  make  intercession  for  us,  though 
in  different  ways.  John  16:7;  1  John  2:1; 
Heb.  T  :  25  ;  Rom.  8  :  26.  It  seems  proper 
that  so  long  as  a  part  of  the  church  is  above 
and  a  part  below,  one  of  the  Advocates  or 
Comforters  should  be  on  earth,  while  the  other 
is  in  heaven.  TVe  need  not  speculate,  but  rest 
the  whole  upon  Christ's  word— that  if  he  went 
not  away  the  Spirit  would  not  be  poured  out. 
He  lays  this  dojjp  as  an  ultimate,  though  cer- 
tain truth.  The  church  may  not  expect  the 
personal  presence  of  Christ,  and  the  copious 
effusion  of  the  Holy  Ghost  at  the  same  time. 
There  were  days  of  Pentecost  when  our  Lord 
on  earth,  but  none  of  them  was  marked 
by  the  descent  of  the  Spirit,  like  a  mighty 
rushing  wind,  converting  thousands  in  a  day. 
All  the  glorious  revivals  witnessed  since 
Christ's  ascension,  have  been  in  consequence 
of  his  absence  from  the  church  below.  He 
I  :  "  He  that  believeth  on  me,  the  works 
that  I  do  shall  he  do  also ;  and  greater  works 
than  these  shall  he  do,  because  I  go  unto  my 
Father."    John  14:12.     The  blessed  Spirit 


348      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

comforts  ten  thousands,  yea,  ten  millions  of 
hearts  at  once,  filling  with  joy  the  souls  of 
believers,  at  the  same  hour,  in  different  parts 
of  the  world.  This  is  better  than  Christ's 
personal  presence  on  earth.  The  Spirit  is  in 
all,  through  all,  over  all.  He  is  just  such  a 
Comforter,  just  such  an  Advocate,  as  the 
church  militant  needs.  His  presence  may 
revive  ten  thousand  churches  at  once,  and 
each  of  them  be  as  much  blessed  as  if  his 
visit  was  to  it  alone. 


1.  The  present  arrangement  of  all  things 
concerning  the  church  is  the  oest.  If  there 
ever  was  a  point  respecting  the  expediency  of 
which  the  pious  might  have  doubted,  it  was 
Christ's  leaving  them  on  earth.  Yet  even 
his  personal  followers  lived  to  see  that  this 
dark  event  was  for  the  best.  Man,  with  his 
ignorance  and  folly,  will  never  be  able  to  sug- 
gest any  improvement  in  God's  method  of 
governing  the  world  and  saving  the  church. 
It  is  best  that  Christ  should  be  on  the  other 
side  of  Jordan  and  beckon  us  over.  Eays  of 
heavenly  brightness  from  the  upper  world 
light  up  our  darkness  even  in  our  passage  to 
eternity.     The  Sun  of  Righteousness  gilds  the 


CHRIST'S  PERSONAL  ABSENCE.      349 

path  of  dying  saints.  The  departing  believer 
now  rejoices  that  he  is  going  to  his  Saviour. 
Death  is  far  less  dismal  than  it  would  be  if, 
in  leaving  earth,  we  were  going  away  from 
the  blessed  Redeemer. 

Besides,  after  the  High  Priest  has  shed 
his  blood,  what  is  so  proper  as  that  he  should 
go  into  the  holy  of  holies,  sprinkle  the  mercy- 
seat,  appear  for  us  in  the  presence  of  God, 
and  execute  the  full  work  of  intercession  for 
his  chosen  ? 

As  things  now  are,  Christ  is  the  great 
attraction  to  heaven  and  heavenly-minded- 
ness. 

2.  Let  the  people  of  God  everywhere  and 
always  rejoice  in  a  Saviour  risen  and  made 
higher  than  the  heavens.  Let  them  do  this 
in  adversity  as  well  as  in  prosperity.  Bates 
says :  u  One  of  the  sorest  and  most  dangerous 
temptations  of  the  afflicted  is,  that  they  are 
out  of  God's  favor.  The  mourning  veil  dark- 
ens the  eyes  of  their  minds,  that  they  cannot 
reconcile  his  gracious  promises  with  his  prov- 
idential dispensations,  the  good  things  he  hath 
prepared  for  hereafter  with  the  evil  he  sends 
here,  Gideon  complained  to  the  angel,  'If 
God  be  with  us,  how  comes  all  this  evil  to 


350     THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

us?'  St.  Augustine  introduces  God  as  thus 
addressing  his  afflicted  and  tempted  child: 
1  Is  this  thy  faith  ?  Did  I  promise  temporal 
prosperity  to  you  ?  Were  you  made  a  Chris- 
tian that  you  might  flourish  in  this  world  V  " 
Blessed  be  God,  who  has  said,  "  As  many  as 
I  love  I  rebuke  and  chasten."  God  had  one 
Son  in  this  world  without  sin,  but  never  a  son 
here  without  affliction.  His  promise  is,  I 
will  bring  them  through  the  fire,  and  they 
shall  be  refined  as  gold  and  silver  is  tried  ; 
and  they  shall  say,  The  Lord  is  my  God. 
Zech.  13:9.  If  it  were  expedient  for  the 
Master  to  leave  the  disciples,  surely  it  is  no 
great  stretch  of  faith  to  believe  that  it  may 
be  for  our  good  that  friends,  and  health,  and 
prosperity,  and  reputation  should  leave  us. 
He  who  overrules  for  good  the  heaviest  losses 
will  not  permit  lesser  ones  to  do  us  harm. 

3.  All  things  are  now  ready  for  the  conver- 
sion of  sinners  and  for  subduing  the  world  to 
knowledge,  to  love,  and  to  obedience.  The 
atonement  is  finished.  Christ  has  made  an 
end  of  transgression.  His  work  has  been 
owned  and  accepted  before  heaven  and  earth. 
His  ascension  was  a  public  triumph  in  the 
presence  of  angels  and  men.     In  it  he  led 


CHKIST'S  PERSONAL  ABSENCE.      351 

captivity  captive,  and  received  gifts  for  men. 
The  chiefest  of  the  mercies  he  sends  down  to 
accompany  pardon  of  sin  and  acceptance  is 
the  sanctifying,  enlightening,  and  comforting 
presence  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  In  God's  gov- 
ernment, all  obstacles  to  the  salvation  of  sin- 
ners who  will  believe  have  been  removed. 
The  propitiatory  has  been  sprinkled  with 
precious  atoning  blood.  It  is  now  indeed  a 
mercy-seat,  and  it  is  accessible  to  all  the  guilty 
sons  of  men  who  are  willing  to  bow  before  it ; 
so  that  we  may  now  proclaim  aloud:  "Let 
us  come  boldly  to  the  throne  of  grace,  that 
we  may  obtain  mercy,  and  find  grace  to  help 
in  time  of  need."  If  we  need  more  grace, 
more  liveliness  in  our  affections,  more  success 
in  our  labors,  we  have  access  to  God.  The 
door  is  open  to  poor,  perishing  men,  the  guilty 
and  the  helpless.  Let  them  only  look  and 
live,  believe  and  be  saved. 


352      THE  BOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 
CHAPTER   XIX. 

CHKIST  ON  THE  JUDGMENT-SEAT. 

The  fourth  and  last  step  in  Christ's  exal- 
tation is  yet  future.  It  consists  in  his  coming 
to  judge  the  world. 

No  man  knows  that  he  will  ever  see  the 
sun  rise  or  set  again  ;  but  it  is  certain  that 
every  one  shall  see  the  Son  of  man  coming 
to  judgment,  and  witness  the  solemn  transac- 
tions of  the  last  day. 

Conscience  forebodes  a  solemn  reckoning. 
She  says  it  will  be  right  and  fair  to  have  a 
final  settlement  of  all  things.  The  resurrec- 
tion of  Christ  from  the  dead  gave  assurance 
of  a  judgment-day.  Acts  17  :  31.  It  is  in  itself 
proper  that  God  should  show  to  the  whole 
universe  that  in  all  things  he  has  done  right. 
This  can  fitly  be  done  in  the  assizes  of  an 
assembled  world.  The  doctrine  of  a  day  of 
judgment  was  not  a  secret  to  any  of  the  proph- 
ets. Enoch  foretold  it  as  clearly  as  any  apos- 
tle. The  author  of  the  first  psalm  says :  "The 
ungodly  shall  not  stand  in  the  judgment ;"  and 
the  author  of  the  fiftieth  psalm  gives  a  full  ac- 


ON  THE  JUDGMENT-SEAT.  353 

count  of  its  awful  grandeur,  and  of  the  princi- 
ples on  which  its  awards  shall  be  made.  Sol- 
omon says :  "  God  shall  bring  every  work  into 
judgment,  with  every  secret  thing,  whether  it 
be  good  or  whether  it  be  evil."  Eccl.  12  :14. 
Time  would  fail  us  to  show  how  often  and 
clearly  Christ  himself,  and  Paul,  and  James, 
and  Peter,  and  John  speak  of  such  a  day. 
This  solemn  subject  now  claims  attention. 

I.  God  hath  appointed  a  day  in  the  which 
he  will  judge  the  world.  Eespecting  this  day 
several  things  are  noticeable. 

1.  To  God  it  is  a  day  certain.  He  has 
appointed  it.  Acts  17  :31.  Nothing  can  hasten 
it:  nothing  can  retard  it.  The  purpose  of 
God  concerning  it  is  fixed,  unalterable. 

2.  To  all  creatures, it  is  a  day  uncertain: 
11  Of  that  day  and  hour  knoweth  no  man  ;  no, 
not  the  angels  of  heaven."  It  is  clear  from 
the  teachings  of  Scripture,  that  God  designed 
that  no  conjecture  should  be  formed  by  any 
generation  of  men  respecting  the  precise  time 
of  the  judgment.  Twice  is  it  said,  it  will 
come  as  a  thief  in  the  night.  1  Thess.  5:2; 
2  Peter  3 :10.  Compare  Matt.  24 :36,  42,  44 ; 
Luke  21:35,  36. 

3.  The  day  of  judgment  will  be  the  great 


354      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

day.  So  inspired  men  often  call  it.  It  will 
be  the  greatest  day  in  the  annals  of  the  uni- 
verse. It  is  the  day  for  which  all  other  days 
were  made.  There  will  be  more  done  that 
day  than  was  done  perhaps  for  thousands  of 
days,  or  even  years,  of  former  times.  This 
day  is  so  well  known  to  inspired  men,  that 
they  call  it  the  day,  that  day,  as  preeminent 
over  all  others. 

4.  It  will  be  the  day  of  the  Lord.  2  Peter 
3:10.  Christ  will  then  appear  in  his  glory. 
On  that  day  men  will  not  question  his  divinity, 
or  his  humanity,  or  his  authority.  Then  he 
will  be  crowned  Lord  of  all.  It  will  be  exclu- 
sively his  day. 

5.  It  will  be  the  last  day.  It  is  so  called 
by  Christ  himself,  John  6:39,  40.  After  it, 
time  will  be  no  longer.  Duration  will  no 
more  be  measured  by  seconds,  minutes,  days, 
months,  years,  centuries,  cycles;  but  all  will 
be  boundless,  shoreless,  fathomless,  unmeas- 
ured eternity. 

6.  It  will  probably  be  a  long  day — how 
long  we  are  not  informed,  but  long  enough  to 
answer  all  the  purposes  for  which  it  was  ap- 
pointed, displaying  G-od's  justice,  vindicating 
the  right,  condemning  the  wrong.   • 


ON  THE  JUDGMENT-SEAT.  355 

7.  It  will  be  a  very  bright  clay.  Other 
days  had  their  dawn,  their  twilight,  and  their 
clouds;  but  this  day  will  begin,  continue,  and 
end  In  ineffable  effulgence.  They  had  their 
light*  from  the  sun  ;  but  this  will  have  its  light 
from  the  brightness  of  Immanuel. 

8.  It  will  be  a  day  of  unusual  noises : 
"  The  Lord  himself  shall  descend  from  heaven 
with  a  shout,  with  the  voice  of  the  archangel, 
and  with  the  trump  of  God."  The  heavens 
shall  pass  away  with  a  great  noise.  To  these 
shall  be  added  the  shouts  of  the  redeemed 
and  the  wailings  of  the  impenitent. 

9.  It  will  be  a  day  of  wonderful  clearing 
up  of  the  character  of  the  innocent.  God  will 
then  bring  forth  their  righteousness  as  the 
light  and  their  judgment  as  the  noonday. 
The  slandered  will  that  day  have  the  sting 
of  calumny  for  ever  removed  ;  the  persecuted 
will  no  longer  clank  their  chains  ;  those  with 
whose  lives  and  liberties  witnesses,  juries, 
judges  and  rulers  wantoned  will  no  more  fear 
the  minions  and  myrmidons  of  cruelty. 

10.  It  will  be  a  day  of  astounding  expo- 
muvs.  Yillany  will  be  covered  up  no  more. 
Every  disguise  will  be  taken  away.  There  is 
nothing  covered  that  shall  not  be  revealed  ; 


356      THE  BOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

neither  hid,  that  shall  not  be  known.  Indeed, 
there  never  was  any  thing  kept  secret,  but 
that  it  should  come  abroad.  Luke  12 :2  ;  Mark 
4:22.  "Some  men's  sins  are  open  before- 
hand, going  before  to  judgment,  and  some 
men  they  follow  after.7''     1  Tim.  5  :24. 

11.  It  will  be  a  day  of  unwonted  gran- 
deur: "  Our  G-od  shall  come,  and  shall  not 
keep  silence ;  a  fire  shall  devour  before  him, 
and  it  shall  be  very  tempestuous  round  about 
him.  He  shall  call  to  the  heavens  from  above 
and  to  the  earth,  that  he  may  judge  his  peo- 
ple." For  majesty  and  glory,  for  sublimity 
and  grandeur,  the  pomp  of  all  other  days  shall, 
in  comparison  with  this,  be  as  nothing.  If 
Felix  trembled  when  Paul  merely  reasoned 
of  judgment,  how  will  sinners  tremble  when 
Christ  shall  come  to  judgment  ? 

12.  From  first  to  last  it  shall  be  a  day  of 
miracles.  "All  the  wonders  ever  exhibited 
before  will  be  nothing  to  the  wonders  of  this 
day.  Indeed,  all  that  is  natural  will  end  on 
this  day,  and  every  thing  will  be  miraculous." 

13.  Of  course  it  will  be  a  day  of  intense 
excitement.  There  will  be  no  listless  specta- 
tors of  those  scenes.  Every  faculty  of  the 
intellect  and  of  emotion  will  be  aroused  to 


OX  THE  JUDGMENT-SEAT.  357 

the  highest  possible  exercise.  Men  may  sleep 
under  sermons  concerning  the  judgment,  but 
they  will  not  be  dull  when  they  go  to  judgment. 

14.  It  will  also  be  a  day  of  separation. 
The  precious  and  the  vile,  the  wheat  and  the 
tares,  the  sheep  and  the  goats,  saints  and  sin- 
ners, shall  no  longer  mingle  together.  The 
separations  of  this  day  will  be  final.  The 
righteous  and  the  wicked  shall  part  that  day 
to  meet  no  more. 

15.  It  will  be  a  day  of  decision.  The  tri- 
bunal of  Christ  is  the  court  of  last  resort. 
Causes  and  destinies  will  be  inquired  into  no 
more.  Saved  that  day,  saved  for  ever.  Lost 
that  day,  lost  for  ever.  Holy  that  day,  holy 
for  ever.     Filthy  that  day,  filthy  for  ever. 

16.  It  will  be  a  day  of  triumph.  Christ 
and  his  people  will  fill  the  heavens  with  their 
peals  of  exultation.  At  his  ascension  from 
Olivet  the  Redeemer  went  up  with  a  shout. 
Ps.  47 : 5.  He  shall  come  to  judgment  with  a 
shout;  1  Thess.  4  :  10.  His  return  to  heaven 
will  be  with  vehement  notes  of  triumph  still 
louder.  When  the  Israelites  brought  the  ark 
of  the  covenant  into  their  camp  they  shouted 
with  a  great  shout,  so  (hut  the  earth  rang 
again.     Hut  when  all  the  elect  shall  receive 


358      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

their  welcome  plaudit,  their  shout  shall  fill 
the  heavens  with  its  thunder. 

17.  It  shall  be  a  day  of  despair  to  all  sinful 
creatures.  The  last  hope  will  be  gone  from 
fallen  angels  and  incorrigible  men.  Every- 
where sinners  will  be  crying  to  the  rocks  and 
the  mountains  :  "  Fall  on  us  and  hide  us  from 
the  face  of  him  that  sitteth  on  the  throne, 
and  from  the  wrath  of  the  Lamb."  Was  ever 
despair  more  dreadful  than  this  ? 

18.  This  will  be  a  day  full  of  surprise.  Not 
only  will  it  come  unexpectedly,  but  its  awards 
will  fill  saints  and  sinners  with  astonishment. 
So  Christ  teaches  at  length  in  Matthew  25th. 
The  wicked  will  be  amazed  that  they  are  lost, 
and  how  they  are  lost.  They  will  be  espe- 
cially surprised  that  God  sets  no  value  on 
their  self-righteousness.  The  sons  of  Grod 
will  receive  more  honor  than  they  ever  asked 
or  thought  of.  The  sons  of  Belial  will  receive 
more  wrath  than  they  ever  feared.  Christians 
will  marvel  why  they  are  saved.  Sinners  will 
wonder  why  they  are  not  saved.  Each  class  of 
persons  will  cry,  "Lord,  when  saw  we  thee  a 
hungered,  or  athirst,  or  a  stranger,  or  naked, 
or  sick,  or  in  prison?"  Many  will  be  saved 
and  more   perhaps  be  lost  contrary  to   the 


ON  THE  JUDGMENT-SEAT.  359 

judgments  formed  of  them  by  their  neighbors. 
But  more  will  be  saved  and  more  will  be  lost 
contrary  to  the  opinions  they  had  formed  of 
themselves. 

II.  The  Bible  says  on  that  day  God  will 
judge  the  world.  In  the  Greek  Testament  are 
three  words  rendered  world.  One  of  these 
signifies  duration  past,  present,  or  future,  but 
often  with  a  limit.  It  is  the  word  used  by  our 
Saviour  when  he  speaks  of  "this  world, !?  of 
"  that  world,"  of  "  the  end  of  the  world,"  and 
of  "the  world  to  come."  In  this  way  of  using 
it,  it  is  equivalent  to  age.  In  the  plural  it 
often  signifies  eternity.  It  is  never  used  to 
teach  whom  God  will  judge. 

A  second  word,  rendered  world,  is  of  fre- 
quent occurrence.  It  is  found  in  Acts  17 :  24 : 
"  God  that  made  the  world  and  all  things 
th*  rein.*'  Here  it  evidently  means  the  uni- 
verse ;  so  also  in  many  other  cases.  Often  it 
means  the  earth,  and  then  its  inhabitants.  It 
is  often  used  in  connection  with  the  judgment. 
In  Romans  3  :  6  it  is  said  :  "  God  shall  judge 
the  world"  + 

lint  in  Acts  17:31,  "He  hath  appointed  a 
day  in  the  which  he  will  judge  the  world," 
yet  another  word  is  used  for  world.     In  Luke 


360      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

21  :  26  it  is  rendered  the  earth ;  in  all  other 
cases,  the  world.  In  Luke  2:1,  it  is  put  for 
the  Roman  empire,  because  that  embraced 
most  of  the  known  world.  But  commonly  it 
means  the  habitable  earth.  It  occurs  fifteen 
times,  and,  with  the  exception  already  noticed, 
is  uniformly  rendered  the  world,  as  when  Jesus 
says,  "This  gospel  of  the  kingdom  shall  be 
preached  in  all  the  world,  for  a  witness  unto 
all  nations."     Matt.  24:14. 

The  Scriptures  declare  that  all  men  shall 
be  judged.  The  Lord  "shall  judge  the  earth," 
"shall  judge  the  ends  of  the  earth,"  "shall 
judge  the  people,"  shall  judge  "  all  nations," 
"shall  judge  them  that  are  without,"  "shall 
judge  his  people,"  "shall  judge  the  righteous 
and  the  wicked,"  "shall  judge  the  quick  and 
the  dead.'-' 

Other  Scriptures  say  that  angels  shall  be 
then  judged.  Christ  shall  bring  all  his  holy 
angels  with  him.  Matt.  25  :  31 ;  Mark  8  :  38  ; 
Luke  9  :26.  They  shall  be  the  reapers  on  this 
great  harvest-day.     See  also  2  Pet.  2  :  4. 

It  seems  tb  be  intimated  that  all  angels, 
fallen  and  unfallen,  all  men,  saints  and  sin- 
ners, great  and  small,  quick  and  dead,  shall 
be  judged.     All  rational  creatures  shall  make 


ON  THE  JUDGMENT-SEAT.  361 

up  the  assembly.  The  servant  and  his  master, 
the  prisoner  at  the  bar  and  the  judge  that  sat 
on  his  trial,  the  assassin  and  the  assassinated, 
the  seducer  and  his  victim,  the  invader  and 
the  invaded,  the  hireling  and  his  oppressor, 
the  king  and  his  subjects,  the  fool  and  the 

•  man.  the  persecutor  and  the  persecuted, 
the  apostate,  the  hypocrite,  the  child  of  God 
and  the  child  of  the  devil,  the  angels  that 
stood  and  the  angels  that  fell,  shall  all  be 
there.  Xo  rational  creature  shall  be  so 
mighty,  no  mortal  shall  be  so  mean  as  to 
elude  the  eye  or  the  sentence  of  him  that 
shall  sit  upon  the  throne  of  judgment. 

What  a  mighty  concourse  will  this  be, 
when  prophets,  apostles,  martyrs,  confessors, 
saints  of  all  ages,  when  sinnQrs,  liars,  infidels, 
blasphemers,  moralists,  and  murderers,  shall 
all  be  there ;  when  the  sea  and  the  dry  land 
shall  give  up  their  dead,  when  the  third 
heaven  shall  pour  forth  its  glorious  legions, 
when  death  ami  hell  shall  deliver  up  the  dead 
that  are  in  them,  when  all  that  lived  before 
the  flood,  all  that  have  lived  since  the  Hood, 
and  all  that  shall  have  lived  to  the  end  of 
ill  Maud  before  God.  This  will  be 
the   firs!    and  the  last  assembly  in  which  may 


3G2      THE  EOOK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

be  found  every  rational  creature  that  God 
ever  made. 

III.  This  great  assembly  shall  be  judged 
in  righteousness.  No  injustice  shall  be  done. 
Even  the  condemned  will  have  nothing  to 
allege  against  the  equity  of  their  doom. 
Every  mouth  will  be  stopped.  The  evidence 
will  be  full,  the  record  complete.  For  "the 
books  shall  be  opened :" 

1.  The  volume  of  nature.  It  shows  forth 
the  eternal  power  and  godhead  of  the  Most 
High.  Its  lessons  are  taught  everywhere. 
"There  is  no  speech  nor  language  where 
their  voice  is  not  heard."  So  that  all  men 
are  "  without  excuse."   Ps.  19 :3 ;  Eom.  1 :  20. 

2.  There  is  the  book  of  providence.  How 
many  disregard  all  its  lessons !  They  despise 
the  riches  of  God's  goodness,  and  forbear- 
ance, and  long-suffering.  They  never  think 
that  his  goodness  should  lead  them  to  repent- 
ance ;  but  after  their  hard  and  impenitent 
heart  treasure  up  to  themselves  wrath  against 
the  day  of  wrath.     Kom.  2  :  4,  5. 

3.  There,  too,  will  be  the  book  of  con- 
science. On  it  is  written  the  work  of  the 
law.  Now  this  volume  may  be  closed.  There 
it  will  show  its  faithful  records. 


ON  THE  JUDGMENT-SEAT.  363 

4.  Then,  too,  will  be  opened  the  book  of 
holy  Scripture.  Christ  says  that  even  infi- 
dels, who  refused  to  believe  Grod's  word,  shall 
be  judged  by  it.  "  He  that  rejecteth  me  and 
receiveth  not  my  words,  hath  one  that  judge th 
him  :  the  word  that  I  have  spoken,  the  same 
shall  judge  him  in  the  last  day.7'  John  12:48. 
Wilfhl  ignorance  is  no  excuse.  Wilful  rejec- 
tion of  the  Bible  enhances  men's  condemnation. 

5.  Then,  too,  will  be  opened  the  booh  of 
remembrance.  Its  record  will  be  full,  minute, 
infallible.  When  it  is  opened  every  sinner 
will  say,  "Innumerable  evils  have  compassed 
me  about.  Mine  iniquities  have  taken  hold 
upon  me,  so  that  I  am  not  able  to  look  up  ; 
they  are  more  than  the  hairs  of  my  head  : 
therefore  my  heart  faileth  me." 

Thus  will  be  revealed  all  forms  and  de- 
grees of  sin  ;  open  sin,  which  proclaims  its 
guilt  on  earth ;  secret  sin,  which  no  man  could 
prove,  or  without  uncharitableness  suspect, 
Bom.  2:16;  sins  of  commission,  which  were 
acted  out ;  and  sins  of  omission,  which  in 
will  make  a  formidable  array. 
The  fig-tree  vraa  cursed  because  it  had  no 
fruit.  Endeed,  in  his  solemn  account  of  the 
judgment,  in  Matthew  25,  Jesus  Christ  men- 


364      THE  ROCK  OF  OUE  SALVATION. 

tions  no  sins  but  those  of  omission.  The  life  of 
man  consists  in  thoughts,  emotions,  words,  and 
deeds.     For  all  these  he  shall  give  account. 

(1.)  Thoughts.  "The  thought  of  foolishness 
is  sin."  Prov.  24:9.  God  destroyed  the  old 
world  because  the  imagination  of  the  thoughts 
of  man's  heart  was  evil,  and  that  continually. 
G-en.'  6:5.  It  is  an  alarming  charge  against 
the  wicked  that  "  God  is  not  in  all  his 
thoughts."  Ps.  10  :  4.  "  The  thoughts  of  the 
righteous  are  right."  Prov.  12  :  5.  "The 
thoughts  of  the  wicked  are  an  abomination  to 
the  Lord."  Prov.  15  :  26.  All  good  thoughts 
and  all  evil  thoughts  shall  be  judged. 

(2.)  Emotions.  Malice,  lust,  covetousness, 
envy,  sinful  auger,  hatred,  inordinate  affection 
on  the  one  hand ;  and  love,  hope,  joy,  peace, 
gentleness,  patience  on  the  other  ;  all  good 
emotions  and  all  sinful  emotions  shall  be  tried. 

(3.)  Words.  "Every  idle  word  that  men 
shall  speak,  they  shall  give  account  thereof 
in  the  day  of  judgment.  For  by  thy  words 
thou  shalt  be  justified,  and  by  thy  words  thou 
shalt  be  condemned."  Matt.  12 :  36,  37.  Not 
a  word,  good  or  bad,  shall  be  passed  over. 
1 '  Whatsoever  ye  have  spoken  in  darkness 
shall  be  heard  in  the  light ;  and  that  which  ye 


ON  THE  JUDGMENT-SEAT.  365 

have  spoken  in  the  ear  in  closets  shall  be 
proclaimed  upon  the  housetops."  Luke  12:3. 
All  vain,  false,  unchaste,  impudent,  provo- 
king, profane,  blasphemous  speeches,  and  all 
pure,  pious,  loving,  wise,  right  words,  shall 
alike  and  properly  be  noticed. 

(4.)  Deeds.*  All  our  good  deeds  shall  be 
reported  before  the  Judge.  And  he  will  not 
wipe  out  our  good  deeds  that  we  have  done. 
Xch.  13:14.  To  the  ungodly  Jehovah  will 
give  "according  to  their  deeds,  and  according 
to  the  wickedness  of  their  endeavors  :  give 
them  after  the  work  of  their  hands;  render  to 
them  their  desert."  Ps.  28:4.  l< According  to 
their  deeds,  accordingly  he  will  repay."  Isa. 
59:18.  He  says:  "I  will  recompense  them 
according  to  their  deeds,  and  according  to 
[he  works  of  their  own  hands."  The  matter, 
the  manner,  the  motive  of  every  act,  good  and 
bad,  will  be  t li 

(5.)  As  no  man  has  a  good  thought,  or  feel- 
ing, or  speaks  a  good  word,  or  does  a  good 
ieed,  but  by  divine  grace,  and  as  in  this  life 
sin  cleaves  to  nil  men  so  as  to  mar  their  best 
performances,  and  as  all  the  wicked  do  noth- 
ing but  -in.  if  there  was  no  other  book  besides 

Be   to   be   opened,   all   mu  b.     But 


366      THE  BOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

there  is  another.  It  is  the  booh  of  life  of  the 
Lamb  slain  from  the  foundation  of  the  ivorld. 
Rev.  13:8.  In  the  other  books  was  nothing 
found  that  could  save  any  man.  But  this 
contains  the  names  of  all  those  who  shall 
have  washed  their  robes  and  made  them 
white  in  the  blood  of  the  LamU  According 
to  this  book  all  who  believe  in  Christ  shall  be 
justified.  They  shall  receive  a  rich,  free,  gra- 
tuitous salvation.  But  ''whosoever  was  not 
found  written  in  the  book  of  life  was  cast  into 
the  lake  of  fire,"     Eev.  20  :  15. 

IV.  The  Judge  will  be  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  called  in  Scripture,  the  man  whom  God 
hath  ordained  to  that  work  :  "  For  the  Father 
judge th  no  man  ;  but  hath  committed  all  judg- 
ment unto  the  Son.'7  John  5  :22.  "  We  must 
all  appear  before  the  judgment-seat  of  Christ." 
2  Cor.  5:10.  Christ  shall  come  not  only  in  the 
glory  which  he  had  with  the  Father  before  the 
world  was,  but  in  his  glorified  human  nature ; 
God  has  given  him  authority  to  judge,  because 
he  is  the  Son  of  man.  John  5  :  27.  Christ 
the  Lord  will  be  the  righteous  Judge..  Oth- 
ers shall  approve  the  sentences  he  shall  pro- 
nounce, and  in  this  sense  saints  are  said  to 
judge  angels.     1  Cor.  6:3.     But  in  the  full 


ON  THE  JUDGMENT-SEAT.  367 

sense  shall  Christ  alone  "judge  the  quick  and 
the  dead/'  2  Tim.  4:1.  How  altered  the 
state  and  appearance  of  the  Saviour  will  be 
from  what  it  was  when  he  walked  and  wept 
on  earth,  and  especially  when  he  hung  upon 
the  cross,  or  lay  in  the  sepulchre  of  Joseph. 
His  coming  shall  be  visible  to  all:  "Every 
eye  shall  see  him,  and  they  also  which  jrferced 
him."  llev.  1:7.  Even  those  born  blind  shall 
sec  him.     Christ  will  come  visibly,  and  be 

i  as  a  man.  We  shall  behold  him  in  hu- 
man form.  So  he  himself  declared  more  than 
once  :  "  Ye  shall  see  the  Son  of  man  coming 
in  the  clouds  of  heaven."  Matt.  24 :  30 •  26 :  G4 ; 
Mark  13:26;  14:62.  So  testified  the  angels 
at  his  ascension:  "This  same  Jesus  which  is 
taken  up  from  you  into  heaven  shall  so  come 
in  like  manner  as  ye  have  seen  him  go  into 
heaven."  Acts  1:11.  But  Jesus  ascended  vis- 
ibly ;  so  will  he  descend  visibly.  He  ascended 
in  human  nature  entire  ;  he  shall  descend  in 
human  nature  entire.  He  shall  come  with 
great  power  and  glory.     Mark  13:26. 

At  his  presence  nature  shall  dissolve.  The 
elements  shall  melt  with  fervent  heat.  2  Pet. 
3:10.  Great  signs  and  terror  shall  witness 
his  coming:    The  heavens  shall  depart  as  a 


368      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

scroll  when  it  is  rolled  together  •  and  every 
mountain  and  island  shall  be  moved  out  of 
their  places,  and  the  kings  of  the  earth,  and 
the  great  men,  and  the  rich  men,  and  the  chief 
captains,  and  the  mighty  men,  and  every  bond- 
man, and  every  freeman  shall  hide  themselves 
in  the  dens,  and  in  the  rocks  of  the  mountains. 
Rev.  6:14,  15. 

The  sentence  passed  by  the  Judge  will  be 
.solemn  and  irrevocable.  That  of  the  right- 
eous will  be:  "Come,  ye  blessed  of  my  Fa- 
ther, inherit  the  kingdom  prepared  for  you 
from  the  foundation  of  the  world."  That  of  the 
wicked  will  be :  "  Depart  from  me,  ye  cursed, 
into  everlasting  fire,  prepared  for  the  devil 
and  his  angels."  In  both  cases  the  sentence 
will  be  at  once  executed.     Matt.  25  :34,  41. 

1.  Let  us  not  be  much  troubled  by  the 
apparent  confusion  we  now  witness  in  human 
affairs.  Here  vanity  often  rides  in  splendor, 
while  worth  is  clothed  in  rags  ;  folly  rolls  in 
chariots,  while  wisdom  lies  in  chains  ;  brutal- 
ity wields  unlimited  power  over  decency  and 
piety  j  and  oppression  puts  its  iron  heel  on 
all  that  good  men  love  ;  but  the  kst  day  will 
set  all  things  right.     Eccl.  2  :  14-17  ;  5  : 8. 


OX  THE  JUDGMENT-SEAT.  369 

2.  What  a  mighty  argument  is  the  day  of 
judgment  for  a  holy  life.  So  Peter  says  : 
"Seeing  then  that  all  these  things  shall  be 

solved,  what  manner  of  persons  ought  ye 
to  be  in  all  holy  conversation  and  godliness, 
looking  for  and  hasting  unto  the  coining  of  the 
day  of  God." 

3.  Nothing  but  uprightness  and  consist- 
ency will  stand  the  test  of  the  last  day,  and 

followed  by  glory  and  honor:  "Thinkest. 
tlmii  this,  0  man,  that  judgest  them  which  do 
such  things,  and  doest  the  same,  that  thou 
shalt  escape  the  judgment  of  God?"  Bom.  2  :3. 

4.  In  his  address  to  the  people  of  Athens, 
Paul  uses  this  subject  as  an  argument  to  re- 
pentance :  "God  . . .  commandeth  all  men  eve- 
rywhere to  repent,  because  he  hath  appointed 
a  day  in  the  which  he  will  judge  the  world  in 
righteousness,  by  that  Man  whom  he  hath 
ordained."  The  call  to  repentance  thus  given 
is  solemn  and  full  of  authority.  It  is  a  com- 
mand from  God.  It  is  urgent.  The  judgment 
is  coming.  The  Judge  standeth  before  the 
door.  The  time  is  short.  There  is  no  work, 
nor  device,  nor  knowledge,  nor  wisdom,  nor 
repentance  in  the  grave,  whither  thou  goest. 
Some  say,  &od  has  not  made  us  to  punish  us. 

1G* 


370      THE  EOCK  OF  OUK  SALVATION. 

But  if  they  die  in  their  sins,  they  will  find 
that  "  He  that  made  them  will  not  have  mercy 
on  them,  and  he  that  formed  them  will  show 
them  no  favor."     Isa.  27:11.     0  drunkard, 
how  wouldst  thou  look  and  feel  if  called  to  go 
raving  and  reeling  into  "the  presence  of  thy 
Maker  and  thy  Judge?     No  drunkard  shall 
inherit  the  kingdom  of  God.      1  Cor.  6:10. 
And  thou  shameless   profligate,   unless  thou 
dost  speedily  repent,  thou  wilt  be  for  ever 
given  over  to  appetites  and  passions  which 
will  sink  thee  to  the  lowest  hell.     I  pray  thee 
to  repent.     And  thou  profane  man,  who  min- 
glest  thy  Maker's  name  with  thy  ribaldry,  thy 
passions,  or  thy  lies,  beware  lest  thou  become 
one  of  those  "  that  cannot  cease  from  sin,  .  .  . 
to  whom  the  mist  of  darkness  is  reserved  for 
ever."     Oh  repent  while  thou  may  est.     Thou 
abuser  of  holy  time,  if  thou  sinnest  a  little 
longer,  thou  wilt  be  in  a  state  where  thou 
wouldst  give  ten  thousand  worlds  for  another 
Sabbath  in  a  gospel  church.  Thou  foul-mouthed 
man,  with  thy  present  love  of  sin  thou  canst 
never  sing,  Hosanna  to  the  Son  of  David. 
When,  on  his  trial,  Latimer  heard  the  pen  of 
the  notary  running  behind  the  curtain,  he  was 
careful  what  he  said.     Take  heed  what  thou 


ON  THE  JUDGMENT-SEAT.  371 

speakest.  The  recording  angel  is  about.  Thy 
words  will  meet  thee  at  God's  bar.  Art  thon  an 
apostate?  "  If  any  man  draw  back,"  says  God, 
"my  soul  shall  have  no  pleasure  in  him." 
Tertullian  says:  "The  apostate  seems  to  put 
Christ  and  Satan  both  in  the  balance,  and 
having  weighed  the  service  of  each,  prefers 
that  of  the  devil,  and  proclaims  him  master." 
Surely  thou  must  repent:  "God.  will  make 
lii-  sword  drunk  in  the  blood  of  apostates." 
Finally,  art  thou  an  unbeliever,  perhaps 
moral,  serious,  kind  to  the  poor,  well-behaved 
id  the  house  of  God,  yet  without  living  faith  in 
Jesus  ?  Repent,  and  believe  the  gospel,  else 
it  had  been  good  for  thee  if  thou  hadst  not 
been  born.  Let  every  sinner  cry  for  mercy. 
Let  him  cry  mightily,  0  thou  Son  of  David, 
have  mercy  on  me. 


372      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 
CHAPTEE  XX. 

CHEIST  THE   GOOD  SHEPHERD. 

With  the  exception  of  the  Egyptians,  Gen. 
46:34,  the  ancients  appear  to  have  held  in 
high  esteem  the  occupation  of  shepherd.  Much 
of  the  romance  and  poetry  of  antiquity  related 
to  pastoral  life.  It  was  therefore  very  nat- 
ural for  the  sacred  writers  by  a  shepherd  and 
his  flock  to  represent  the  relations  between 
rulers  and  their  subjects,  between  ministers 
and  their  people,  and  between  God  and  his 
church.  There  is  peculiar  propriety  in  thus 
setting  forth  the  character  and  offices  of  the 
Saviour  and  the  relations  subsisting  between 
him  and  believers.  Quite  a  number  of  inspired 
writers  employ  such  language.  With  his  own 
blessed  lips  our  Lord  said,  "I  am  the  Good 
Shepherd."     We  may  .here  consider : 

I.  The  qualities  of  a  good  shepherd,  as 
they  are  found  in  Christ. 

One  of  these  is,  devotedness  to  his  office. 
He  who  would  well  fulfil  the  place  of  shep- 
herd must  not  be  idle.  He  holds  no  sinecure. 
He  must  be  very  attentive.     He  has  a  great 


CHKIST  THE  GOOD  SHEPHERD.      373 

work  on  hand.  This  is  the  case  when  the 
shepherd  has  but  a  small  flock',  and  they  of 
little  value.  It  is  much  more  true  when  he 
has  the  care  of  souls.  It  is  above  all  true  of 
the  Saviour  of  men.  Who  ever  served  God 
or  his  generation  like  the  Redeemer?  Even 
when  on  earth,  he  was  often  wearied  and  hun- 
gry and  thirsty,  yet  nothing  could  divert  him 
from  the  great  business  he  had  undertaken. 
In  every  age  he  has  fully  performed  the  en- 

ement  to  each  believer,  "  I  will  never  leave 
thee  nor  forsake  thee."  At  home  and  abroad, 
in  sickness  and  health,  in  the  height  of  pros- 
perity and  in  the  perfection  of  trouble  does  he 
attend  his  "little  flock."     He  is  not  merely  a 

lour  afar  off,  but  also  a  Saviour  at  hand — 
a  very  present  Help  in  time  of  trouble. 

Another  quality  of  a  good  shepherd  is, 
love  for  Ms  office.  If  his  heart  should  be  set 
more  intently  on  something  else,  he  cannot 
possibly  succeed.  If  he  prefers  some  other 
calling  above  that  in  which  he  is  engaged, 
disaster  must  come  on  the  ilock.  It  is  de- 
lightful to  be  able  to  assert,  on  the  authority 
of  single  promises  and  of  the  tenor  of  Scrip- 
.  that  no  object  in  creation  lies  nearer  the 

;  t  of  the  good  Shepherd  than  the  care  and 


374      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

salvation  of  his  flock.  This  was  so  in  the 
countless  age's  of  a  past  eternity,  as  himself 
declares :  "Then  I  was  by  him  as  one  brought 
up  with  him :  and  I  was  daily  his  delight,  re- 
joicing always  before  him;  rejoicing  in  the 
habitable  part  of  his  earth  ;  and  my  delights 
were  with  the  sons  of  men."  Prov.  8  :30,  31. 
When  he  was  here,  "  having  loved  his  own, . . . 
he  loved  them  unto  the  end."  Never  did  he 
neglect  one  of  his  flock.  Never  did  he  slight 
his  appropriate  work.  As  one  whom  his 
mother  comforteth,  so  does  he  comfort  his 
saints.  To  Zion  he  says:  "Behold,  I  have 
graven  thee  upon  the  palms  of  my  hands; 
thy  walls  are  continually  before  me."  Isaiah 
49:16. 

Another  important  quality  of  a  good  shep- 
herd is,  watchfulness:  "Thy  shepherds  slum- 
ber, 0  king  of  Assyria'1 — Nahum  3:18 — was 
among  the  saddest  signs  of  Nineveh's  ruin. 
To  the  church  God  saith  :  "He  that  keepeth 
thee  will  not  slumber.  Behold,  he  that  keep- 
eth Israel  shall  neither  slumber  nor  sleep." 
Psa.  121:3,  4. 

"Those  wakeful  eyes, 

That  never  sleep, 

Shall  Israel  keep 

When  dangers  rise." 


CHRIST  THE  GOOD  SHEPHERD.      375 

"The  eyes  of  the  Lord  run  to  and  fro  through- 
out the  whole  earth,  to  show  himself  strong 
in  the  behalf  of  them  whose  heart  is  perfect 
toward  Mm."  2  Chron.  16:9.  It  is  a  great 
mercy  that  God's  people  are  so  seldom  allowed 
to  fall  under  the  temptation  to  believe  that 
their  way  is  hid  from  the  Lord  and  their  judg- 
ment passed  over  from  their  God.  But  even 
when  Satan  does  gain  a  temporary  advantage, 
in  such  a  case  they  know  that  it  is  not  for  the 
want  of  loving  care  and  tender  watchfulness 
in  their  God  and  Saviour. 

Another  desirable  quality  in  the  shepherd 
ifi  wisdom*  Woe  to  the  flock  whose  guide  has 
only  "  the  instruments  of  a  foolish  shepherd.''' 
Zech.  11:15.  When  the  shepherd  takes  the 
whip  rather  than  the  crook,  the  scourge  rather 
than  the  staff  of  Israel,  when  he  would  only 
drive,  and  not  at  all  allure,  it  is  sad  indeed 
for  the  flock.  Alas  for  the  "shepherd  that 
cannot  understand."     Isa.  56:11.     But  the 

1  Shepherd  employs  no  unwise  instru- 
ments or  measures.  He  knows  what  is  best. 
He  leea  the  end  from  the  beginning.  Be 
understands  all  our  case.  He  chargeth  his 
angels  with  folly.  He  taketh  the  wise  in  their 
own  craftiness.     No  plot  la  00  deep,  and  no 


376      THE  ROCK  OF  OUB  SALVATION. 

machination  so  cunning,  that  he  cannot  at  once, 
and  with  infinite  ease,  pour  confusion  upon 
their  authors. 

Another  necessary  quality  in  a  shepherd 
is  strength.  Without  it  the  sheep  are  defence- 
less. With  it  they  are  safe.  In  Amos  3  ;12, 
we  read  of  the  shepherd  taking  out  of  the 
mouth  of  the  lion  the  two  legs  of  one  of  his 
sheep.  With  supernatural  strength  God  en- 
dowed David,  when  he  was  but  a  shepherd's 
boy,  that  he  might  deliver  his  flock  from  a 
lion  and  a  bear.  It  may  be  in  special  refer- 
ence to  the  power  of  Christ  that  he  is  called 
"that  great  Shepherd  of  the  sheep."  Heb. 
13:20.  He  is  also  styled  "the  chief  Shep- 
herd." 1  Pet.  5:4.  In  strength,  as  in  all 
other  good  qualities,  he  excels  all  shepherds : 
■' '  God  hath  spoken  once :  twice  have  I  heard 
this,  that  power  belongeth  unto  God."  In 
Scripture  our  Shepherd  is  called  "  the  mighty 
God."  Isa.  9:6.  He  claims  for  himself  the 
awful  title,  "The  Almighty,"  Rev.  1:8;  and 
one  Almighty  is  more  than  all  mighties.  In- 
deed, our  Shepherd  "appeared  unto  Abra- 
ham, unto  Isaac,  and  unto  Jacob,  by  the  name 
of  God  Almighty."     Expd.  6  : 3. 

It  is  a  matter  of  no  small  weight  that  a 


CHRIST  THE  GOOD  SHEPHERD.      377 

shepherd  be  no  intruder,  but  be  rightfully  in 
his  office.  This  is  the  case  with  our  Shepherd. 
Before  he  gave  the  commission  under  which 
the  gospel  is  now  preached,  he  assured  his 
church,  saying,  "All  power  [authority]  is 
Liven  unto  me  in  heaven  and  in  earth."  Matt. 
28:18.  Indeed,  early  in  his  ministry  he  said 
to  his  disciples:  "All  things  are  delivered 
unto  me  of  my  Father.7'  Matt.  11 :27.  Even 
before  his  advent,  prophecy  declared 
that  there  should  be  "given  him  dominion, 
and  glory,  and  a  kingdom,  that  all  people, 
nations,  and  languages  should  serve  Mm." 
Dan.  7:14. 

X'  i  quality  of  a  shepherd  is  of  higher  value 
than  love  to  the  sheep.  This  shows  itself  in  gen- 
tleness, in  constant  care,  in  readiness  to  en- 
counter danger  for  their  defence.  0  how  won- 
drously  loving  is  our  Shepherd.     He  is>  so 

tie.  He  neither  strives,  nor  cries,  nor 
lifts  up,  nor  causes  his  voice  to  be  heard  in 
the  streets.     When  reviled,  he   reviled  not 

n  ;  when  lie  suffered,  he  threatened  not. 

How  different  was  Ik;  from  the  shepherds  of 

the  flock  of  slaughter.    They  pitied  not  the 

distresses  of  those  for  whom  they  were  hound 

as  love;  0,  it    was  compassion 

/for    Of  IHJI^ 


378      THE  EOCK  OF  OUE  SALVATION. 

like  a  God,  that  caused  the  good  Shepherd,  to 
lay  down  his  life  for  the  sheep.  Some  of  the 
Eoman  emperors  claimed  to  be  shepherds  to 
their  people.  Trajan  was  such  a  one.  He 
sent  his  own  raiment  to  bind  up  the  wounds 
of  his  soldiers  ;  and  for  that  kindness  many 
loved  him.  But  Jesus,  the  good  Shepherd, 
had  his  flesh  torn,  and  his  blood  shed,  and  his 
heart  melted  like  wax,  that  he  might  heal  our 
wounds.  He  has  the  only  sovereign  balm. 
This  pity  of  Jesus  shows  itself  in  his  readi- 
ness to  receive  and  tenderly  treat  the  weak- 
est and  most  sickly  of  his  flock.  Continually 
does  he  fulfil  the  prophetic  promise,  "  He  shall 
feed  his  flock  like  a  shepherd :  he  shall  gather 
the  lambs  with  his  arm,  and  carry  them  in  his 
bosom,  and  shall  gently  lead  those  that  are 
with  young."  Isa.  40:11.  One  of  the  last 
charges  of  the  chief  Shepherd  to  Peter,  and 
through  him  to  all  ministers,  was,  "Feed  my 
lambs,  feed  my  sheep,  feed  my  sheep."  Jesus 
never  forgot  the  lambs.  Jesus  never  forgot 
one  of  his  sheep.  When  a  bird,  frightened  by 
a  hawk,  flew  into  the  bosom  of  a  man,  though 
he  was  a  heathen  he  said,  "  I  will  not  betray 
thee  to  thine  enemy,  seeing  thou  comest  to  me 
for  sanctuary."     So  in  time  of  danger  the 


CHRIST  THE  GOOD  SHEPHERD.      379 

good  Shepherd  loves  to  have  his  affrighted 
sheep  come  close  to  him  aiid  abide  with  him. 
In  a  sense,  all  times  are  times  of  danger ;  so 
we  cannot  cleave  too  closely  to  the  Redeemer. 
This  ardent  love  to  the  flock  secures  fidelity, 
as  our  Lord  has  said:  "He  that  is  a  hire- 
ling, and  not  the  shepherd,  whose  own  the 
sheep  are  not,  seeth  the  wolf  coming,  and  leav- 
eth  the  sheep  and  fleeth,  and  the  wolf  catch- 
eth  them  and  scattereth  the  sheep.  The  hire- 
ling fleeth  because  he  is  a  hireling,  and  careth 
not  for  the  sheep."  John  10:12,  13.  But 
Jesus  saw  the  wolf  coming,  and  stood  his 
ground,  and  laid  down  his  life  for  his  sheep, 
and  saved  them. 

II.  Let  us  consider  the  offices  which 
tin'  good  Shepherd  actually  performs  for  his 
people.  It  would  do  no  good  to  a  flock  to 
have  a  shepherd  over  so  well  qualified,  if  he 
exercised  nut  himself  in  their  behalf.  Our 
Shepherd  unceasingly  seeks  and  promotes  our 
good. 

It  is  required  of  a  shepherd  that  he  know 
his  Hock.    Xhe  words  of  Jesus,  so  full  of  corn- 
arc.  '•!...  know  my  sheep,  and  am  known 
of  mine."     John  10  :  14.     And  in  verse  3  lie 
says,  "He  oallctli  his  own  sheep  by  name. " 


380      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

Sometimes  in  Scripture  the  word  know  has 
the  same  sense  as  foreknow.  In  this  sense 
Jesus  knew  his  people.  "  Whom  he  did  fore- 
know he  also  did  predestinate."  Eom.  8 :  29. 
He  saw  Nathanael  under  the  fig-tree,  and 
Zaccheus  in  the  sycamore-tree.  He  knew  all 
about  them.  Sometimes  the  word  know  is 
equivalent  to  distinguish.  In  this  sense,  also, 
Christ  knows  his  people:  "The  Lord  know- 
eth  them  that  are  his,"  that  is,  he  distin- 
guishes the  sheep  from  the  goats.  Sometimes 
to  know  denotes  familiarity.  So  our  Lord 
Jesus  says :  "I  will  come  unto  you ;"  "I  will 
make  my  abode  with  you;"  "Lo,  I  am  with 
you  alway,  even  unto  the  end  of  the  world." 
Sometimes  to  know  denotes  recognition  as  of 
friends.-  So  Jesus  says,  "Henceforth  I  call 
you  not  servants  ;  for  the  servant  knoweth 
not  what  his  Lord  doeth:  but  I  have  called 
you  friends  ;  for  all  things  that  I  have  heard 
of  my  Father,  I  have  made  known  unto  you. 
Ye  have  not  chosen  me,  but  I  have  chosen 
you."  John  15  :  15,  16.  Besides,  he  himself 
has  taught  us  how  a  good  shepherd  will  seek 
a  lost  sheep,  and  rejoice  over  it  when  he  has 
found  it.  Thus  he  illustrates  the  emotions 
awakened  in  heaven  over  a  lost  sinner  recov- 


CHRIST  THE  GOOD  SHEPHERD.       381 

ered  from  the  snare  of  the  wicked  one.  And  he 
explicitly  teljs  ns  that  he  came  to  seek  and  to 
e  that  which  was  lost,  and  to  do  it  by 
dying  the  death.  Indeed,  "All  we  like  sheep 
have  gone  astray  ;  we  have  turned  every  one 
to  his  own  way  ;  and  the  Lord  hath  laid  on 
him  the  iniquity  of  us  all."  Isa.  53  :  6.  With 
what  joy  each  believer  sings, 

•  J64QB  sought  rue  when  a  stranger, 
Wandering  from  the  fold  of  God ; 
He.  to  rescue  me  from  danger, 
Interposed  his  precious  blood. " 

1>\  Ezekiel,  34:  6,  God  complains,  "My  sheep 
Wandered  through  all  the  mountains  and  upon 
ry  high  hill :  yea,  my  flock  was  scattered 
upon  all  the  face  of  the  earth."  He  then  adds, 
verses  12-1  I.  "As  a  shepherd  seeketh  out 
his  Hock  in  the  day.  that  he  is  among  his 
sheep  that  are  scattered  ;  so  will  I  seek  out 
my  sheep  and  deliver  them  out  of  all  places, 
whe?$  they  have  been  scattered  in  the  cloudy 
and  dark  day.  And  1  will  bring  them  out 
IVmn  the  people,  and  .  .  .  feed  them  upon  the 
mountains  of  Israel  by  the  rivers,  ...  I  will 
feed  then  in  a  good  pasture,  and  upon  the 
high  mountains  of  Israel  shall  their  fold  be. 
There  shall  they  lie  in  a- good  fold,  and  in 
a  ha  pasture  shall  they  feed  upon  the  mount- 


382      THE  EOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

ains  of  Israel."  This,  blessed  be  his  name, 
is  just  what  the  Lord  is  doing.  J3e  is  seeking 
and  finding  the  lost  sheep,  and  bringing  them 
into  his  fold,  and  blessing  them,  by  the  thou- 
sand and  the  ten  thousand,  with  his  own  pres- 
ence and  infinite  mercy. 

Not  only  does  a  good  shepherd  once 
gather  his  sheep  into  his  fold,  but  when  they 
wander  he  brings  them  back  :  "  He  restoreth 
my  soul,"  says  David,  Ps.  23  :  3.  This  is 
according  to  the  whole  tenor  of  Scripture. 
Compare  Ps.  89  :  30-33.  When  Peter  strayed, 
Jesus  sought  him.  When  Ephraim  wandered, 
God  said,  "  Is  Ephraim  a  dear  son  ?" 

It  was  one  branch  of  a  shepherd's  work  to 
go  before  his  flock,  and  thus  be  their  leader. 
So  the  good  shepherd  ' '  leadeth  them  out,  and 
when  he  putteth  forth  his  own  sheep,  he  goeth 
before  them."  John  10  :  3,  4.  In  like  man- 
ner the  psalmist  cries:  "Give  ear,  0  Shep- 
herd of  Israel,  thou  that  leadest  Joseph  like  a 
flock."  Ps.  80  : 1.  The  shepherd  weiit  before 
the  flock  to  keep  the  sheep  from  going  into 
barren  or  dangerous  places,  to  guide  them 
into  green  pastures  and  to  cooling  fountains, 
and  at  evening  to  bring  them  safely  to  their 
fold.     0  how  gently  the  good  Shepherd  leads 


CHRIST  THE  GOOD  SHEPHEED.       383 

his  flock?  How  abundantly  he  supplies  all 
their  wants.  The  science  of  mathematics 
affords  no  stronger  reasoning  than  this:  "The 
Lord  is  my  Shepherd ;  I  shall  not  want."  It 
was  an  awful  charge  that  God  brought  against 
some  of  old:  "Woe  be  to  the  shepherds  of 
Israel  that  do  feed  themselves!  should  not 
the  shepherds  feed  the  flocks  ?"  Ezek.  34  :  2. 
Surely  the  good  shepherd  will  not  do  thus. 
He  provides  food  for  the  body.  Not  a  spar- 
row is  forgotten  before  God.  Are  ye  not 
of  more  value  than  many  sparrows,  0  ye 
of  little  faith  !  Thy  bread  and  thy  water  is 
sure.  When  the  last  handful  of  meal  was 
preparing,  then  was  the  prophet  sent  to  sup- 
ply the  widow  with  plenty.  Jesus  also  pro- 
vides for  the  sustenance  of  our  souls:  "My 
grace  is  sufficient  for  thee."  There  is  his 
blessed  word.  There  are  his  precious  ordi- 
nances. He  has  made  provision  that,  by  his 
Spirit  all  the  appointed  means  shall  be  effica- 
cious. In  short,  God  denies  a  Christian  noth- 
ing, but  to  give  him  something  better. 

n&  also  keeps  and  defends  his  flock.    If 
now  and    (lien   wild    beasts    prow]    about  the 

ibid  and  alarm  the  sheep;  this  makes  them 

lather  the  more  closely  around  their  glorious 


384:      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

Leader.  Or  if,  in  the  way  of  persecution, 
Apollyon  shall  let  loose  his  clogs  upon  the 
flock  of  Christ  to  worry  them,  it  shall  only 
make  them  the  more  willing  to  remain  in 
the  fold.  God  controls  all  that  seek  to  do 
his  people  harm.  Their  mouths  are  holden. 
"Hear  the  word  of  the  Lord,  0  ye  nations, . . .. 
He  that  scattered  Israel  will  gather  him,  and 
keep  him,  as  a  shepherd  doth  his  flock."  Jer. 
31 :10.  The  Master  said,  "Behold,  I  send  you 
forth  as  sheep  in  the  midst  of  wolves.57  Matt. 
10  :  16.  Yet  he  adds,  "Let  not  your  heart  be 
troubled,  neither  let  it  be  afraid."  John  14: 27. 
If  their  enemies  are  mighty,  he  is  almighty  j  if 
they  are  cunning,  he  knows  all  things ;  if  they 
muster  many,  he  marshals  all  the  host  of 
heaven,  and  devils  are  subject  unto  him. 
When  Christ's  sheep  hear  his  voice  and  know 
it,  it  is  to  them  most  cheering.  For  the 
"words  of  the  wise,"  which  "are  as  goads, 
and  as  nails  fastened  by  the  masters  of  assem- 
blies," are  "given  from  one  Shepherd."  Ecc. 
12  :  11.  .  The  true  flock  of  Christ  has  a 
remarkable  discernment,  which  makes  it  very 
difficult  to  lead  them  astray.  "A  stranger 
will  they  not  follow."  Jesus  accustoms  them 
to  his  voice.     Its  gentle  tones  and  winning 


CHRIST  THE  GOOD  SHEPHERD.       385 

sweetness  bind  them  close  to  the  Redeemer. 
He  is  all  in  all  to  them. 

III.  Let  us  observe  the  effect  of  the  good 
Shepherd's  care  over  his  flock.  They  know 
his  voice  and  they  follow  him.  His  word  is 
quick  and  powerful  in  their  hearts.  His  ex- 
ample they  love  to  imitate.  Was  he  benevo- 
lent? So  are  they.  Did  he  go  about  doing 
good?  So  do  they.  Was  he  meek  and  lowly? 
They  are  not  proud  and  revengeful.  Their 
great  hope  and  aim  are  that  they  may  be  like 
him,  and  see  him  as  he  is.  1  John  3 :  2.  They 
will  be  satisfied  when  they  awake  with  his 
likeness.  They  learn  to  flee  to  him  in  times 
of  danger.  His  name  is  a  strong  tower  ;  the 
righteous  run  into  it  and  are  safe.  Like  the 
<•< mies,  God's  people  are  a  feeble  folk,  and 
like  the  conies,  their  defence  is  in  the  rock. 
( )n  their  Shepherd  they  depend  for  every 
thing.  In  him  they  have  strong  confidence, 
great  boldness  in  the  Lord.  Yet  they 
are  far  removed  from  self-confidence.  They 
plead  no  merits  of  their  own,  but  plead  their 
title  to  membership  in  his  flock.  Hear  them 
of  old:  "We  thy  people  and  sheep  of  thy 
ire**  Ps.  70  :  13.  ".Oh  come,  'let  us 
worship  and  bow  down  :  let  oa  kneel  before 

Bock  of  felva.  17 


386      THE  EOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

the  Lord  our  maker.  For  he  is  our  God ;  and 
we  are  the .  people  of  his  pasture,  and  the 
sheep  of  his  hand."  Ps.  95  :  6,  7.  Other 
places  show  how  these  timid  ones  come  with 
boldness  even  to  the  throne  of  grace. 

IY.  But  what  are  the  marks  which  Christ 
puts  on  his  sheep?  These  are  much  hidden 
from  the  eye  of  unregenerate  men.  Even 
the  chief  Shepherd  was  not  known  by  the 
wise  and  prudent  of  his  day;  much  less  do 
such  men  see  the  image  of  God  on  the  hearts 
of  his  people.  Like  their  Master,  they  are 
often  esteemed  impostors,  babblers,  blasphe- 
mers, madmen,  possessed  of  devils.  But  still 
they  have,  their  marks. 

1.  A  sheep  is  gentle  and  quiet.  It  is  not  for 
war.  A  meek  and  quiet  spirit  is  in  the  sight 
of  God  of  great  price.  The  difference  between 
a  saint  and  a  sinner  is  the  difference  between 
a  sheep  and  a  goat,  sometimes  between  a 
sheep  and  a  wolf.  ;'A  sheep  before  her 
shearers  is  dumb,"  though  losing  her  fleece. 
God's  people  have  a  law  whose  spirit  they 
love  :  "  If  any  man  will  sue  thee  at  the  law, 
and  take  away  thy  coat,  let  him  have  thy 
cloak  also." 

2.  A  sheep  is  free  from  guile.     A  fox  is 


CHRIST  THE  GOOD  SHEPHERD.       387 

cunning  and  sly  ;  but  sheep  have  no  craft. 
They  are  artless.  Of  each  of  Christ's  flock  it 
may  be  said  with  more  or  less  exactness, 
"Behold  an  Israelite  indeed,  in  whom  is  no 
guile." 

3.  Sheep  are  tractable  and  not  heady. 
From  their  nature  they  are  governable.  God 
loves  the  obedient,  not  the  complaining ;  the 
submissive,  not  the  murmuring. 

4.  A  sheep  is  of  a  cleanly  nature.  Its 
habits  are  quite  different  from  those  of  the 
swine.  We  expect  to  see  the  sow  in  the  mire. 
She  loves  to  be  there.  But  if  the  sheep  is 
there,  it  is  not  willingly.  God's  people  are 
holy.  If  they  were  as  holy  as  they  desire, 
fliey  never  would  sin  any  more. 

1 .  All  accounts  of  the  Shepherd's  life  show 
us  that  there  is  much  intercourse  between 
him  and  his  flock;  and  that  as  he  loves  them, 
so  they  love  him.  This  holds  in  a  spiritual 
sense.  Here  is  a  delightful  theme.  Christ 
manifests  himself  to  his  people  as  he  does  not 
to  i In-  world.  Many  a  time  does  he  come  unto 
them,  and  show  them  his  covenant.  Nor  are 
these  manifestations  of  his  grace  and  glory 
lost  upon  them.     Their  souls  learn  to  follow 


388      THE  BOCK  OF  OUE  SALVATION. 

hard  after  him.  They  count  all  things  bat 
less  for  the  excellency  of  his  knowledge. 
Consequently,  the  more  intercourse  between 
Christ  and  his  people,  the  better  do  they  love 
him. 

2.  Let  us  never  forget  that  there  is  but 
one  Shepherd  and  but  one  fold.  How  careful 
then  ought  we  to  be  not  to  disown  any  whom 
Christ  has  received.  It  is  better,  through 
honest  mistake,  to  receive  him  whom  Christ 
rejects,  than  through  uncharitableness  to  reject 
him  whom  Christ  has  received.  How  many 
wicked  partition  walls  are  set  up  in  the  fold 
of  Christ!  "Is  Christ  divided?"  It  is  at 
our  peril  if  we  wound  where  Christ  would 
heal. 

3.  Dear  Christian  brethren !  sheep  of 
Christ's  pasture !  often  seek  the  guidance  of 
your  Leader.  Go  in  quest  of  the  green  pas- 
tures and  the  still  waters.  Cry  mightily  to 
Grod.  Ask  him  to  lead  you  in  paths  of  right- 
eousness for  his  name's  sake.  Never  lose 
sight  of  the  Redeemer.  Constantly  petition 
him  as  did  the  spouse  of  old:  "Tell  me,  0 
thou  whom  my  soul  loveth,  where  thou  feed- 
est,  where  thou  makest  thy  flock  to  rest  at 
noon :   for  why  should  I  be  as  one  that  turn- 


CHRIST  THE  GOOD  SHEPHERD.       389 

eth  aside  by  the  flocks  of  thy  companions  V1 
Cant,  1  :  7/ 

How  sweet  and  awful  is  the  place,  with 
Christ  within  the  doors.  It  was  communion 
with  the  Redeemer  before  his  incarnation  that 
made  Jacob  exclaim  at  Bethel,  "This  is  none 
other  but  the  house  of  God  and  the  gate  of 
heaven." 

Blest  Jesus  !  What  delicious  fare.  How 
sweet  thy  entertainments  are !  All  must 
come  humbly  to  the  mercy-seat.  Set  your 
wants  before  the  Lord  as  the  widow  set  her 
empty  vessels  before  the  prophet,  and  he  will 
supply  them  all ;  yea,  there  shall  not  be 
room  enough  to  contain  the  blessing.  A  dear 
young  Christian  mother  expiring  three  thou- 
sand miles  from  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  in 
the  interior  of  Africa,  sent  to  her  mother  and 
sister  in  the  capital  of  Virginia  this  message  : 
"I  never  have  regretted  coming  to  this  land 
of  darkness.  Heaven  is  as  near  to  Mosika  as 
to  Richmond."  She  then  kissed  her  babe  and 
knl<'  farewell  to  earth.  So  do  his  rod  and 
his  staff  comfort  those  who  walk  through  the 
valley  of  the  shadow  of  death. 

4.  Here  the  sheep  and  the  goats  often 
mingle  together ;  but  it  shall  not  be  so  always. 


390      THE  EOCK  OF  OUE  SALVATION. 

The  chief  Shepherd  will  appear  by-and-by, 
"and  before  him  shall  be  gathered  all  nations: 
and  he  shall  separate  them  one  from  another, 
as  a  shepherd  divideth  his  sheep  from  the 
goats ;  and  he  shall  set  the  sheep  on  his  right 
hand,  but  the  goats  on  the  left.,;  Matt.  25  :32, 
33.  Solemn  indeed  will  be  that  day.  Final 
and  fearful  will  be  its  separations.  Nothing 
but  that  which  infinite  purity  and  omniscient 
rectitude  shall  approve  will  stand  the  test  of 
the  last  day.  I  ask  not,  Are  you  a  rare  Chris- 
tian, but  are  you  a  real  child  of  God  ?  You 
may  not  be  a  splendid  worshipper,  but  are  you 
sound  at  heart?  What  think  you  of  Christ? 
Is  he  all  your  desire  and  all  your  salvation  ? 
Do  you  mark  his  footsteps  ?  Do  you  exhibit 
his  temper  ?  Do  you  love  his  cause  ?  Do  you 
die  unto  the  world  ?  Are  you  alive  unto  God  ? 
Be  honest  with  yourself ;  the  day  that  is  com- 
ing will  strip  off  every  disguise. 

"When  thou,  my  righteous  Judge,  shalt  come, 
To  take  thy  ransomed  people  home, 

Shall  I  among  them  stand  ? 
Shall  such  a  worthless  worm  as  I, 
Who  sometimes  am  afraid  to  die, 

Be  found  at  thy  right  hand  ?" 


CHRIST  A  PHYSICIAN.  391 

CHAPTEK  XXI. 

CHRIST  A  PHYSICIAN. 

Often  in  Scripture  is  sin  spoken  of  as  a 
disease,  a  sickness,  a  hurt ;  the  plan  of  mercy 

i  remedy,  a  balm,  a  healing  ;  and  God 
and  particularly  Christ,  as  a  Physician.     Psa 
38:7;  Isa.  1:6;  Jer.  8:21,  22;  Hos.  5:13 
Matt  4:23  ;  8  :  17  ;  9  :  12,  35  ;  Mark  2  :  17 
Luke  5  :  31.     More  just  or  striking  figurative 
language  is  nowhere  found.     Men's  sins  make 
them    sick.     The   only  remedy  is   sovereign 
grace.     The  Physician  must  be  divine. 

Let  us  look  at  the  great  doctrines  of  the 
gospel  under  this  figure: 

I.  Sin  is  a  dreadful  disease.  Yea,  it  is 
the  very  worst  disease.  It  was  the  first,  and 
so  is  the  oldest  malady.  It  infected  man  very 
soon  after  his  creation.  The  devil  was  a  mur- 
derer from  the  beginning.  John  8:44.  For 
aearly  six  thousand  years  sin  has  committed 
its  ravages  and  been  gaining  inveteracy.  No 
other  disease  is  so  old. 

Bin  is  also  a  universal  disease  :  "  All  have 


392      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION 

sinned,  and  come  short  of  the  glory  of  God." 
V  There  is  none  righteous,  no,  not  one  :  there 
is  none  that  understandeth,  there  is  none  that 
seeketh  after  God.  They  are  all  gone  out  of 
the  way."  Eom.  3  :  10-12,  23.  Other  mala- 
dies have  slain  their  thousands  ;  this  has  slain 
its  tens  of  thousands.  The  whole  world  is  a 
graveyard,  full  of  spiritual  death  and  corrup- 
tion. No  mere  man  ever  lived  without  sin. 
As  soon  as  we  begin  to  act  we  begin  to  trans- 
gress. 

Not  only  is  every  man  sick,  but  our  whole 
nature  is  diseased.  "The  understanding  is 
darkened  ;"  the  memory  is  polluted  ;  the  ima- 
gination of  the  thoughts  of  the  heart  is  only 
evil  continually  ;  the  throat  is  an  open  sepul- 
chre ;  with  their  tongues  men  use  deceit ';  the 
poison  of  asps  is  under  their  lips  ;  their  mouth 
is  full  of  cursing  and  bitterness  j  their  feet  are 
swift  to  shed  blood.  The  heart  is  deceitful 
above  all  things,  and  desperately  wicked. 
Their  hands  are  full  of  bribes  and  of  blood. 
They  love  darkness  rather  than  light.  They 
put  bitter  for  sweet  and  sweet  for  bitter. 
They  call  the  proud  happy  and  the  humble 
miserable.  They  are  utterly  vain.  Sin  makes 
men  blind,  and  deaf,  and  dumb,  and  lame,  and 


CHRIST  A  PHYSICIAN.  393 

lethargic.  It  is  a  terrible  complication  of  dis- 
eases. It  is  a  rottenness  in  the  bones.  It  is 
a  maddening  fever,  a  wasting  consumption,  a 
paralysis  of  all  the  powers.  Human  nature  is 
wholly  corrupt.  "From  the  sole  of  the  foot 
even  unto  the  head  there  is  no  soundness  in 
it;  but  wounds,  and  bruises,  and  putrefying 
sores :  they  have  not  been  closed,  neither 
bound  up,  neither  mollified  with  ointment,'' 
Isa.  1  :  6. 

Sin  is  a  perpetual  disease.  It  rages  day 
and  night,  on  the  sea  and  on  the  land,  in  the 
house  of  mirth  and  in  the  house  of  God.  The 
wicked  "sleep  not,  except  they  have  done 
mischief."  They  devise  mischief  upon  their 
bed-.  They  "cannot  cease  from  sin."  Even 
in  sleep  their  dreams  are  vain  or  vile.  Sin  has 
no  rest.  If  for  a  season  the  evil  spirit  for- 
sakes h\<  house,  it  is  only  to  bring  with  him 
ii  other  spirits  more  wicked  than  himself; 
and   they  enter  in   and  "dwell  there,  and  the 

state  of  that  man  is  worse  than  the  first. 

Sin  is  a  hereditary  disease:  "By  one 
man's  disobedience  many  were  made  sin- 
ners." We  are  conceived  in  sin  and  brought 
forth  in  iniquity.  The  child  of  a  consumptive 
may  die  of  old  age,  i»nt  tin*  children  of  sinners 

17* 


394      THE  KOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION.     * 

must  be  sinful.  ' '  Who  can  bring  a  clean 
thing  out  of  an  unclean  V 

Sin  is  also  contagious.  Sinners  are  enti- 
cers,  seducers,  corrupters.  Isa.  1  : 4.  Many 
are  "factors  for  hell,  studying  to  corrupt  all 
about  them.77  Men  are  often  partakers  of 
each  other7s  sins.  To  the  perpetual  disgrace 
of  Jeroboam  and  Manasseh,  it  is  said  that  they 
"made  Israel  to  sin.77  Some  men  strongly 
resemble  the  upas-tree,  whose  leaves  and 
bloom  and  shade  blighted  all  within  its  reach. 

Sin  is  also  the  most  deceitful  and  flatter- 
ing disease.  One  of  its  strong  delusions  is, 
"Thou  shalt  not  die.77  Paracelsus  tells  us  of 
a  disease  "  which  made  men  die  dancing.77  So 
with  the  wicked.  When  they  cry,  Peace  and 
safety,  lo,  sudden  destruction  cometh  upon 
them,  and  they  shall  not  escape.  See  the 
throng  of  ungodly  men  marching  to  perdition, 
the  slaves  of  Satan,  the -servants  of  corrup- 
tion, the  enemies  of  God.  Their  mirth  would 
make  an  ignorant  man  think  them  the  happiest 
of  mortals,  and  not,  as  they  are,  condemned 
criminals,  on  their  way  to  the  eternal  prison- 
house  of  inflexible  justice.  Just  as  the  fool 
thought  himself  prepared  for  a  long  and  merry 
life,  his  soul  was  required  of  him.     Sin  has  its 


CHRIST  A  PHYSICIAN.  395 

hectic  flushes,  its  unnatural  excitements,  its 
delusive  dreams,  its  strange  ecstacics.  The 
worse  a  man  is,  the  better  he  thinks  himself 
to  be. 

Sin  is  the  worst  disease,  because  it  is  the 
parent  of  all  other  diseases.  In  Paul's  argu- 
ment, •death  by  sin"  is  an  axiom.  But  for 
sin,  we  should  never  have  seen  a  human  being 
faint,  or  sicken,  or  die.  Suffering  and  agony 
have  one  parent — transgression. 

Other  diseases  are  calamities  ;  this  is  a 
wickedness.  Sin  is  not  a  misfortune  ;  it  is  a 
crime.  It  is  a  wicked  thing  to  be  a  sinner. 
Transgression  brings  guilt.  God  is  angry 
with  the  wicked  every  day.  The  more  sinful 
any  one  is,  Que  more  is  G-od  displeased  with 
him.  • 

Sin  is  the  most  loathsome  of  all  diseases. 

Pride  ifl  the  worst  kind  of  swelling.     No  heart 

a  hard  heart.     No  vileness  com«i 

lilt  an  evil  heart  of*  unbelief.     No  aighl 

jo  appalling  as  a  sight  of  vile  affections. 
The  physician  of  the  body  sees  sights  which 
try  his  ;  but  he  who  has  right  views  of 

sin  i-  sickened  and  frightened  at  the  discovery. 
Ii  ta  horrible  ami  abominable  to  God  and  to 
all  riffht-minded  creatures. 


396      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

Sin  is  also  the  most  dolorous  disease. 
They  multiply  their  sorrows  who  hasten  after 
transgression.  The  most  bitter  cries  that  ever 
were  heard  were  extorted  by  sin.  This  is  true 
of  saints  and  of  sinners,  of  earth  and  of  hell. 

Other  diseases  do  but  kill  the  body  ;  this 
kills  soul  and  body  in  hell  for  ever.  They 
may  pursue  their  victims  to  the  grave  ;  but 
"  sin  kills  beyond  the  tomb."  It  will,  if  pos- 
sible, rage  more  violently  beyond  the  tomb 
than  on  earth.  It  will  be  followed  by  eternal 
regrets  and  reproaches,  eternal  weeping  and 
wailing,  eternal  wrath  and  anguish. 

Nor  can  this  disease  be  cured  by  any 
means  of  human  devising.  If  music  did  cure 
the  bite  of  the  tarantula,  the  music  of  the  an- 
gelic choir,  announcing  the  advent  of  Messias, 
will  not  of  itself  heal  any  soul.  Nay,  the 
melodies  and  harmonies  of  the  skies,  singing 
the  song  of  Moses  and  the  Lamb,  would  not 
save  a  soul.  All  reformations  wrought  by 
persuasion  and  the  natural  will  never  cure  the 
heart.  "  If  I  wash  myself  with  snow-water,  and 
make  my  hands  never  so  clean  ;  yet  shalt  thou 
plunge  me  in  the  ditch,  and  mine  own  clothes 
shall  abhor  me."  Job  9:30,  31.  "I  fast 
twice  in  the  week,  I  give  tithes  of  all  that  I 


CHRIST  A  PHYSICIAN.  397 

possess,"  said  the  Pharisee,  while  spiritual 
wickedness  reigned  within.  Herod  heard 
John   gladly,    and   did   many   things,    Mark 

20,  but  he  sinned  on.  Saul  lifted  up  his 
voice,  and  wept,  and  confessed  his  sin,  but  he 
not  turned  from  folly.  Nor  can  any  mor- 
tal "redeem  his  brother,  nor  give  to  God  a 
ransom  for  him ;  for  the  redemption  of  their 
soul  is  precious."     Psa.  49:7,  8.     We  may 

>p  and  lament  over  our  own  sins  or  over 
the  sins  of  others,  but  that  will  neither  de- 
throne sin  nor  atone  for  it.  God  alone  can 
do  that  work.  Though  conversion  is  not  a 
miracle,  as  we  now  use  that  word,  yet  it  is 
wrought  by  the  almighty  power  of  God,  as 
truly  as  creation  was  the  work  of  omnipotence. 

II.     THERE    IS    a    KKMKDY    FOR   SIN.       This 

remedy  is  in  Scripture  sometimes  called  a 
lical i nii-.  sometimes  a  recovery,  and  sometimes 
"  the  balm  of  Gilead."  Let  us  carry  out  this 
figure.  The  balm  or  balsam  here  alluded  to 
was  an  oily  juice  gathered  from  a  tree  about 
fourteen  feet  in  height.  It  chiefly  grew  in 
G-ilead.  We  know  that  this  balm  was  very 
highly  prized.  It  was  famous  as  a  remedy  in 
many  lands.  The  Lshmaclites  who  bought 
Joseph    were    going    from    (iilead    to    Egypt 


398      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

with,  myrrh  and  spices  and  this  balm.  Gen. 
37:25.  When  Jacob  sent  presents  down  to 
Egypt,  he  forgot  not  to  send  balm.  Gen. 
43  :  11.  Ezekiel  informs  us  it  was  part  of  the 
merchandise  of  Tyre.  Ezek.  27  :  17.  The 
best  quality  of  balm  sold  for  double  its  weight 
in  silver.  This  celebrated  medicine  has  long 
been  mentioned  as  the  best  cure.  <  Jeremiah 
says  of  Egypt:  "  Go  up  into  Gilead  and  take 
balm;  0  virgin,  the  daughter  of  Egypt:  in 
vain  shalt  thou  use  many  medicines,  for  thou 
shalt  not  be  cured."  Again,  of  Babylon  he 
says,  she  "is  suddenly  fallen  and  destroyed: 
howl  for  her ;  take  balm  for  her  pain,  if  so  be 
she  may  be  healed."  Jer.  46  :  11  ;  57  :  8.  So 
that  the  general  import  of  the  phrase  is  clear 
and  very  striking.  The  remedy  for  sin,  the  gos- 
pel balm  of  Grilead,  is  found  in  the  work  and 
death  of  Christ.  His  blood  cleanseth  from  all 
sin.  1  John  1:7.  With  his  stripes  we  are 
healed.  Isa.  53:5.  His  merits  clothe  our 
nakedness. 

1.  By  the  blood  and  righteousness  of  Christ 
we  are  justified.  We  have  peace  with  God 
through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  He  is  the 
Lamb  of  God,  that  taketh  away  the  sin  of  the 
world.     He  is  all  our  salvation.     The  word 


CHRIST  A  PHYSICIAN.  399 

Jehovah,  commonly  rendered  Lord,  is  in  Scrip- 
ture variously  combined  with  other  words, 
and  always  much  to  the  strengthening  of  our 
faith.      Thus  we  have  Jehovah -jireh,   Gen. 

22  :  14,  the  Lord  will  provide  ;  Jehovah-nissi, 
Bxod.  IT  :  15,  the  Lord  is  my  banner  ;  Jeho- 
vah-shalom,  Judg.  6  :  24,  the  Lord  send  peace  ; 
Jehovah-shammah,  Ezek.  48  :  35,  the  Lord  is 
there  ;  Jehovah-rophi,  Exod.  15  :  26,  the  Lord 
that  healeth  thee  ;  and  Jehovah-tsidkenu,  Jer. 

23  :  6,  the  Lord  our  righteousness.  Which  of 
all  these  could  believers  spare  from  the  teach- 
ings of  Scripture  ?  Not  one.  But  among  them 
all.  none  are  more  precious  than  the  two  last 
cited.  Well  do  our  translators  put  thai  last 
cited  in  capital  letters.  The  types  all  fore- 
told that  Christ  should  bear  our  sins.  The 
prophecies  did  the  same.  Christ's  death  atones. 
By  his  Bufferings  we  have  remission,  lie  is 
our  ransom  :  and  by  his  obedience  we  have 

iptanoe,  justifying  righteousness,  a  right 
to  the  tree  of  life.     Our  blood  is  nothing,  our 
ithing,  our  works  arc  nothing;  all 
usnesses  are  as  filthy  rags  ;  they 
of  no  avail.     The  first  effect,  therefore,  of 
Christ's  undertaking  for  as,  is  an  effect  exter- 
na]  to  us.     It  changes  the  state  of  things  at 


400      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

the  throne  of  God  in  reference  to  us.  It  rec- 
onciles God  to  the  offer  and  grant  of  saving 
mercy  to  us  sinners.  It  makes  him  willing 
and  just  to  take  into  his  favor  us  poor  miser- 
able outcasts  and  rebels.  Thus  by  what  Christ 
has  done  and  suffered,  all  barriers  to  God's 
merciful  communications  to  sinners  are  re- 
moved, and  they  are  actually  restored  to  the 
Divine  favor.  Eternal  Justice  is  no  longer 
against  them,  but  for  them.  The  sovereign 
Lord  makes  them  his  sons,  his  heirs,  and  joint 
heirs  with  his  Son  to  an  inheritance  incor- 
ruptible, undefiled,  and  that  fadeth  not  away. 
2.  The  same  Jesus  who  reconciles  God  to 
sinners,  reconciles  sinners  to  God:  Christ  "is 
made  unto  us  sanctification."  If  human  hearts 
are  ever  overcome  and  brought  sweetly  to 
comply  with  the  demands  of  God's  law,  it  will 
be  by  looking  on  him  that  was  pierced.  When 
the  Eomans  saw  Caesar's  bloody  robes,  they 
said,  "His  murderers  shall  die."  And  when 
by  faith  the  sinner  sees  how  his  sins  crucified 
the  Lord  of  life,  he  says  he  will  mortify  his 
members,  which  are  on  the  earth. 

"Yes,  my  Redeemer,  they  shall  die, 
My  heart  has  so  decreed ; 
Nor  will  I  spare  the  guilty  things, 
That  made  my  Saviour  bleed." 


CHRIST  A  PHYSICIAN.  401 

Nothing  but  the  cross  will  melt  a  hard 
heart,  or  bend  a  stubborn  will,  or  give  a 
death-blow  to  corruption.  A  sight  of  hell 
never  frightened  one  out  of  the  love  of  sin. 
The  thunders  of  Sinai  never  made  a  rebellious 
heart  submit  to  God.  Pliny,  the  naturalist, 
Sfcjrs  that  blood  readily  extinguishes  fire.  It 
is  sure  that  the  blood  of  Christ  not  only 
quenches  the  flaming  wrath  around  the  throne 
of  God,  but  it  also  extinguishes  the  fires  of 
unhallowed  desires  in  the  soul.  It  begets 
hatred  to  sin,  and  love  to  holiness.  In  its 
application  this  remedy  is  often  painful.  The 
sinner  is  so  accustomed  to  look  to  himself  for 
righteousness  and  holiness,  that  when  God  is 
convincing  him  of  his  guilt  and  helplessness, 
he  often  fears  that  all  is  for  ever  lost.  He 
supposes  his  exercises  are  but  a  foretaste  of 
the  wrath  to  come.  Even  renewed  men,  hav- 
ing a  clear  sight  of  their  sins,  are  sometimes 
sore  vexed.  Luther  in  desertion  was  so  over- 
come that  he  lay  as  one  dead.  But  in  all 
!ti  vrhere  it  is  applied,  the  gospel  remedy 
overeign  and  efficacious.  It  availed  for 
the  dying  thief,  for  the  bloody  Saul  of  Tarsus, 
for  the  cruel  jailor,  and  for  millions  on  millions 
who  once  esteemed  themselves  as  vile  and  as 


402     THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

worthy  of  everlasting  death  as  any  of  us  can 
possibly  esteem  himself.  Christ  came  to  save 
the  chief  of  sinners,  and  if  he  failed  in  that, 
the  whole  object  of  his  mission  would  not  be 
attained. 

III.  There  is  a  great  and  good  physi- 
cian. His  name  is  Wonderful,  Counsellor, 
The  Mighty  God,  The  everlasting  Father,  The 
Prince  of  peace,  Jesus  Christ  the  Righteous. 
He  is  the  Physician  of  souls.  None  but  he 
can  cure  a  sin-sick  soul. 

He  is  a  very  tender  Physician.  He  can 
be  touched  with  a  feeling  of  our  infirmities. 
He  was  once  hit  by  the  archers  himself.  His 
compassions  are  without  a  parallel.  The 
bruised  reed  he  will  not  break  j  the  smoking 
flax  he  will  not  quench.  He  died  for  his 
patients.  His  strength  was  dried  up  like  a 
potsherd,  that  we  might  be  strong  in  the  Lord. 
His  heart  was  melted  in  him  like  wax,  that 
ours  might  be  melted  in  penitence.  By  his 
stripes  we  are  healed.  He  knows  what  temp- 
tation and  sorrow  mean.  He  is  the  most 
approachable  being  that  ever  walked  the 
earth 

He  will  go  wherever  he  is  asked.  He  will 
go  among  rich  or  poor,  old  or  young,  captives 


CHRIST  A  PHYSICIAN.  403 

or  captors,  if  they  really  desire  him.  Never 
did  he  refuse  to  heal  a  sin-sick  soul  submitted 
to  him.  From  the  days  of  righteous  Abel 
unt'il  now,  he  has  graciously  received  every 
returning  penitent.  I  was  once  asked,  What 
is  the  most  consolatory  text  in  the  Bible  ?  I 
have  never  been  able  to  answer  the  question, 
but  I  know  of  none  sweeter  than  this:  "Jesus 
Christ,  the  same  yesterday,  and  to-day,  and 
for  ever."  The  Lord  Jesus  is  still  as  ready  to 
save  as  when  he  called  Zaccheus,  poured  his 
mercies  on  the  dying  thief,  or  granted  the 
request  of  the  Canaanitish  woman. 

Then  he  is  always  at  hand.  He  is  omni- 
present. We  need  not  wait  a  long  time  for 
him  to  come.  He  is  a  present  help  in  time  of 
trouble.     Rom.  10:6-10. 

He  makes  no  charge  for  all  his  cures.  He 
prac  ithout  money,  without  price.     He 

utterly  contemns  all  sordid  proposals.  The 
full  soul  he  sends  empty  away,  but  he  fills  the 
tangly  with  good  things,  and  gives  grace  to 
the  humble.  Grace  is  poured  into  his  lips; 
the  oil  of  grace  is  poured  into  every  bleeding 
heart 

He  seems  most  ready  to  go  where  he  is 
most  needed.     When  he  sent  forth  his  a] 


404:     THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

ties  to  preach,  he  told  them  to  begin  at  Jeru- 
salem— to  begin  with  his  murderers — those 
who  had  taunted  him,  mocked  him,  and  cruci- 
fied him,  crying,  "  His  blood  be  on  us  and 
on  our  children."  He  knows  that  the  whole 
need  not  a  physician,  but  they  that  are  sick. 

And  well  does  he  love  his  work.  Nothing 
could  balk  his  purpose.  Having  loved  his 
own,  he  loved  them  to  the  end.  His  heart  is 
set  upon  saving  sinners,  so  as  it  is  set  upon 
nothing  else.  He  delights  in  his  work.  He 
sees  the  travail  of  his  soul,  and  is  satisfied. 
His  people  are  his  crown.  His  redeemed  are 
his  diadem. 

He  is  vastly  skilful.  He  knows  what  is 
in  man.  He  understands  all  the  difficult  and 
stubborn  cases.  His  wisdom  is  more  than 
equal  to  any  demands  we  can  make  upon  it. 
He  has  the  tongue  of  the  learned,  that  he 
should. know  how  to  speak  a  word  in  season 
to  him  that  is  weary.  He  knows  the  enor- 
mity of  sin,  the  dreadful  burden  it  brings 
upon  the  conscience,  and  its  fearful  obstinacy. 
He  knows  our-  frame  and  remembers  that  we 
are  dust. 

Never  has  he  failed  in  any  case  that  he 
undertook.     One  of  his  names  is,  Mighty  to 


CHKIST  A  PHYSICIAN.  405 

save.  Manaraeh  and  Paul  and  Bunyan  are  as 
holy  and  as  liappy  as  if  sin  had  never  defiled 
their  souls.  Whosoever  believeth  in  him  shall 
not  perish,  but  have  eternal  life.  Where  sin 
abounded,  grace  hath  much  more  abounded. 

He  is  a  famous  Physician.  His  whole 
undertaking  has  been  "to  the  intent  that  now 
unto  the  principalities  and  powers  in  heavenly 
places  might  be  known  by  the  church  the  man- 
ifold wisdom  of  God,  according  to"  the  eternal 
purpose  which  he  purposed  in  Christ  Jesus  our 
Lord."  Eph.  3  :10, 11.  So  famous  is  he  that 
his  name  is  above  every  name  that  is  named 
in  heaven  and  in  earth.  All  heaven  thinks 
itself  well  employed  in  singing,  "Worthy  is 
the  Lamb  that  was  slain,  to  receive  power, 
and  riches,  and  wisdom,  and  strength,  and 
honor,  and  glory,  and  blessing." 

He  will  take  his  own  time,  use  his  own 
pleasure,  and  employ  his  own  methods  respect- 
ing the  cure.  He  will  have  his  own  way  or 
he  will  not  do  any  thing.  He  knows  that  his 
way  is  best.  He  admits  no  counsellor  to  teach 
him.     The  wisdom  of  creatures  is  folly. 

Bis  prescriptions  are  useless  unless  we 
con  tide  in  him  implicitly.  The  whole  efficacy 
of  his  remedies  depends  on  our  confidence  in 


406      THE  EOCK  OF  OUK  SALVATION. 

him.  "According  to  your  faith,  be  it  unto 
you,"  is  still  the  rule  of  distribution  and 
admeasurement  in  his  kingdom. 

And  now,  poor,  sin-sick,  dying  soul,  repair 
to  this  Physician,  submit  your  case  to  him,  and 
seek  for  the  healing  remedy.  If  you  stay 
away,  you  must  die.  "  The  wages  of  sin  is 
death."  There  is  balm  in  Gilead,  and  a  Phy- 
sician there.  Why  then  is  not  your  health 
recovered?  Nothing  but  your  unbelief  hin- 
ders you  from  being  a  sharer  in  the  infinite 
mercies  of  G-od.  0  come,  and  welcome  to  all 
the  blessings  of  salvation. 


THE  GENTLENESS  OF  CHRIST.       407 
CHAPTER  XXII. 

THE  GENTLENESS  OF  CHRIST. 

The  wants  of  men  are  such  that  any  suita- 
ble relief  brought  to  them  must  be  marked  by 
great  kindness  and  gentleness.  The  wicked 
are  often  rough  and  boisterous.  Towards  God 
their  conduct  is  insolent.  They  care  not  for  a 
Redeemer.  With  the  heirs  of  salvation  it  is 
different.  They  feel  themselves  to  be  feeble. 
They  are  grieved  in  spirit.  They  are  often 
faint-hearted.  They  are  poor  and  timid.  A 
sense  of  sin  bows  them  down.  A  sense  of  weak- 
ness destroys  their  self-confidence.  Their 
boldness  does  not  diminish  their  humility. 
Their  confidence  consists  with  contrition. 
Their  adversaries  are  many,  mighty,  and  ma- 
lignant   Their  understanding  of  divine  things 

!ten  imperfect.  The  best  of  them  have  no 
confidence  in  the  flesh. 

Some  of  God's  dear  people  are  born  with 
great  weakness  of  intellect,  which  is  not  re- 
lieved either  by  education  or  by  grace.  They 
never  take  clear  and  strong  views  of  any  sub- 
ject.    They  live  and  die  children  in  under- 


408      THE  KOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

standing.  They  are  often  perplexed  by  things 
which  are  plain  to  others.  Eegeneration  does 
not  give  new  faculties,  but  a  right  direction 
to  those  we  have. 

Sometimes  disease  or  a  casualty  shatters 
the  nervous  system,  and  for  life  renders  one 
incapable  of  vigorous  exercise  of  mind  or  res- 
olute purposes  of  heart.  Divine  grace  does 
not  restore  health  to  the  sickly,  though  it 
gives  sweet  submission  in  suffering.  Many 
have  a  morbid  tendency  to  dark  views  of 
their  spiritual  state.  Nor  have  they  learned 
to  discriminate  between  exercises  of  mind 
which  are  the  result  of  natural  causes  and 
those  produced  by  religious  truth. 

Wrong  teaching,  especially  in  the  earlier 
stages  of  religious  experience,  often  sadly 
affects  character.  The  truths  of  Scripture 
are  presented  out  of  proportion.  The  solemn 
and  the  terrible,  the  awful  and  the  gloomy, 
sometimes  take  the  place  of  the  mild  and  gentle, 
the  bright  and  cheering.  Even  in  true  piety 
there  is  often  a  sad  mixture  of  superstition. 

In  some  good  men  there  is  such  a  tendency 
to  levity  and  inconstancy,  that  the  Saviour 
sees  it  necessary  often  to  make  them  smart 
for  their  transgressions,  and  to  humble  them 


THE  GENTLENESS  OF  CHJIIST.       409 

in  the  dust.  The  terrors  of  the  law  are  let 
loose  upon  them.  The  arrows  of  the  Almighty 
stick  fast  in  them.  Some  who  now,  by  Divine 
grace,  have  a  well-regulated  temper,  once  had 
wild  passions  ;  but  they  have  been  tamed  by 
severe  discipline.  Some  of  the  most  cheerful 
Christians  once  had  months  or  years  of  dejec- 
tion of  mind  and  sharp  anguish  of  spirit  to 
cure  their  lightness  and  fickleness. 

Besides,  such  are  the  infinite  majesty  and 
glory  of  divine  things,  such  the  unhappy  effects 
of  sin  upon  the  mind,  and  such  the  unspeaka- 
ble importance  of  salvation  in  the  eyes  of  a 
renewed  sinner,  that  the  strongest  among  the 
saints  often  have  the  deepest  sense  of  their 
weakness,  and  those  who  have  the  clearest 
views  are  the  least  satisfied  with  their  attain- 
ments. 

Consequently,  many  in  the  church  are  de- 
sponding, yet  sincere.  Their  faith  is  weak, 
though  unfeigned.  They  have  many  fears 
about  themselves,  while  others  have  good 
hopes  of  them.     Though  they  walk  in  dark- 

,  they  walk  uprightly.  W  they  do  not  go 
forward  like  some,  yet  they  do  not  go  back- 
ward.    Their  hearts  cleave  unto  God.     They 

k  to  bis  wav 

18 


410      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

There  is  not  a  more  interesting  subject 
than  the  treatment  which  Christ  gives  to  the 
timid  and  feeble  among  his  people.  1.  All 
his  people,  at  some  time  or  other,  have  fears, 
and  are  conscious  of  feebleness.  Their  weak- 
ness and  their  leanness  often  constitute  their 
song.  2.  Any  provision  for  such  compre- 
hends also  the  necessities  of  the  strong.  3.  It 
is  delightful  to  the  pious  to  know  that  their 
weakest  brethren  shall  be  cared  for  and  up- 
held. 4.  All  sincere  Christians  love  to  con- 
template the  kindness  of  their  Lord  and  Mas- 
ter, to  whomsoever  manifested. 

We  dare  not  tell  such  that  a  dim  view  of 
religious  truth  or  a  low  state  of  religious  en- 
joyment is  the  best.  There  may  be  a  neces- 
sity for  present  distress,  arising  from  some 
defect  of  character.  But  all  Christians  should 
seek  for  enlargement  and  establishment  in 
truth,  holiness,  and  comfort.  Even  the  most 
perfect  should  be  beckoned  on  to  higher  at- 
tainments. 

Nor  should  we  abate  aught  of  the  require- 
ments of  Glod's  word  as  a  rule  of  life  or  of  self- 
examination.  If  God  is  merciful,  he  is  also 
holy.  If  he  is  condescending,  he  is  also  full  of 
majesty.     Presumption  is  a  great  foe  to  grace. 


THE  GEXTLENESSIOF  CHRIST.       411 

The  great  resources  of  God's  people, 
whether  comparatively  weak  or  strong,  must 
be  found  in  the  character,  the  covenant,  and 
the  grace  of  the  Kedeemer.  In  a  review  of 
their  lives,  the  Lord's  people  ascribe  their  tri- 
umphs to  no  other  cause.  Like  David,  each 
of  them  says,  "  Thy  gentleness  hath  made  me 
great."     2  Sam.  22:36:  Psa.  18:35. 

1.  The  character  of  Christ,  as  given  us 
both  in  prophecy  and  in  history,  is  full  of  en- 
couragement to  all  his  people,  even  the  fee- 
blest. Thus  said  the  evangelical  .prophet : 
"He  shall  not  cry,  nor  lift  up,  nor  cause  his 
voice  to  be  heard  in  the  street.  A  bruised 
reed  shall  he  not  break,  and  the  smoking  flax 
shall  he  not  quench  :  he  shall  bring  forth  judg- 
ment unto  truth."  Isa.  42:2,  3.  Nothing  in 
all  the  Scriptures  is  said  contrary  to  this  pre- 
diction. Our  Lord's  whole  life  upon  earth 
was  an  illustration  of  its  verity.  In  his  right- 
eous indignation,  he  has  trodden  blaspheming 
tyrants  to  hell ;  but  never  did  he  trample 
on  a  broken  heart.  Human  ingenuity  has 
never  yet  suggested  any  thing  expressive  of 
kindness  which  he  might  have  said  or  done, 
that  lie  did  not  say  or  do,  or  something  more 
loving.     The  shortest,  but  by  no  means  the 


412      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

least  instructive  verse  in  his  history  is,  "Je- 
sus wept."  This  was  at  the  grave  of  his  friend 
Lazarus.  At  his  last  celebration  of  the  pass- 
over,  he  laid  himself  out  to  say  the  tenderest 
and  most  consolatory  things  to  his  mourning 
disciples.  In  his  agony,  he  apologized  for 
their  drowsiness.  To  erring  Peter  he  sends 
a  personal  message  to  meet  him  in  Galilee. 
He  bids  unbelieving  Thomas  come  and  thrust 
his  hand  into  his  side,  that  he  might  no  longer 
doubt.  Often  did  he  invite  poor  sinners  to 
partake  of  the  blessings  of  his  salvation: 
"  Come  unto  me,  all  ye  that  labor  and  are 
heavy  laden,  and  I  will  give  you  rest.77  After 
his  ascension  to  heaven,  when  one  of  his  fol- 
lowers was  pierced  by  a  thorn  in  the  flesh, 
and  terribly  buffeted  by  Satan,  he  made  this 
consolatory  revelation:  "My  grace  is  suffi- 
cient for  thee.77 

2.  The  covenant,  of  which  Christ  is  the 
surety  and  the  head,  abounds  in  provisions 
and  promises  made  to  the  trembling  and  the 
feeble:  "As  thy  days,  so  shall  thy  strength 
be;77  "He  that  is  feeble  among  them  at  that 
day  shall  be  as  David  ;  and  the  house  of 
David  shall  be  as  God,  as  the  angel  of  the 
Lord;77  "He  giveth  power  to  the  faint;  and 


• 


THE  GENTLENESS  OF  CHEIST.       413 

to  th cm  that  have  no  might  he  increase th 
strength;"  u  Comfort  ye,  comfort  ye  my  peo- 
ple, saith  your  God."  These  are  mere  sam- 
ples of  engagements  made  before  the  coming 
of  Messiah.  In  the  New  Testament  they  are 
confirmed.  Speaking  of  "  him  that  is  weak  in 
the  faith,"  Paul  says:  "  He  shall  be  holden 
up,  for  God  is  able  to  make  him  stand."  Like 
promises  abound  in  the  gospels  and  in  the 
epistles.  The  very  last  book  of  Scripture  is 
full  of  the  kindest  things  spoken  to  sincere 
believers.  All  these  promises  are  yea  and 
amen  in  Christ.  Study  them.  Let  them 
dwell  in  you  richly. 

3.  In  some  stage  of  their  experience  all 
Christians  have  their  fears  and  weaknesses. 
We  must  be  babes  before  we  are  men.  We 
must  crawl  before  we  can  walk,  and  walk 
before  we  can  run.  The  very  best  things 
come  from  small  beginnings.  The  greatest 
rivers  at  their  head  are  but  little  rills.  The 
greatest  oaks  come  from  acorns  no  larger 
than  a  thimble.  The  greatest  families  and 
kingdoms  had  humble  beginnings.  The  king- 
dom of  heaven  in  the  heart  is  like  a  grain 
of  mustard-seed,  which  is  the  smallest  of  all 
geds.     Despise  not  the  day  of  small  things. 


414      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

We  must  take  root  downwards,  and  then  bear 
fruit  upwards.  The  finest  picture  on  earth, 
when  only  the  outlines  were  drawn,  was  a 
poor  thing ;  not  till  it  was  finished  was  it  fair 
to  pronounce  judgment  upon  it. 

4.  Some  humble  child  of  God  may  say,  "  I 
have  made  but  poor  progress ;  I  am  more  and 
more  out  of  conceit  of  myself.  I  have  sore 
troubles,  fears  within,  and  fightings  without." 
Let  such  remember,  1.  Whatever  makes  us 
lowly  is  good  for  us.  Humility  is  the  most 
excellent  of  graces.  Without  it  there  is  no 
real  progress  heavenward.  2.  Paul  speaks  of 
it  as  the  common  experience  of  Christians  in 
his  day  that  they  were  sorely  troubled:  "We 
know  not  what  we  should  pray  for  as  we 
ought."  We  are  not  sufficient,  as  of  ourselves, 
to  think  any  thing.  "0  wretched  man  that 
I  am,  who  shall  deliver  me  from  the  body  of 
this  death?"  Your  troubles  are  not  greater 
than  these.  3.  G-od's  plan  is  that  our  sancti- 
fication  ordinarily  should  not  be  begun  and 
finished  in  a  day,  as  was  that  of  the  thief  on 
the  cross.  Nature  and  grace  are  like  the 
house  of  Saul  and  the  house  of  David.  The 
contest  between  them  is  long  and  deadly ;  but 
the  house  of  Saul  waxes  weaker  and  weaker, 


THE  GENTLENESS  OF  CHRIST.        415 

and  that  of  David  stronger  and  stronger, 
finally  getting  full  dominion.  4.  It  is  a  pre- 
cious token  of  God's  regard  to  us  that  he  so 
deals  with  us  as  to  destroy  our  carnal  security, 
mortify  our  pride,  make  us  loathe  and  abhor 
ourselves,  and  yet  gives  us  a  relish  for  spir- 
itual enjoyments,  and  leads  us  to  seek  them 
above  all  other  things. 

5.  He  is  a  real  Christian  and  is  making 
progress,  to  whom  Christ  is  more  and  more 
precious.  As  our  estimate  of  him  rises,  our 
estimate  of  ourselves  necessarily  becomes 
lower.  To  believers  Christ  is  every  thing. 
He  is  all  their  salvation.  But  for  the  birth 
of  Christ  in  Bethlehem,  that  would  have  been 
one  of  the  least  celebrated  of  all  towns.  But 
for  liis  residence  in  Nazareth,  the  proverb 
might  still  have  been  true  of  it.  But  for  his 
visit  to  the  second  temple,  its  glory  would 
have  remained  every  way  inferior  to  that  of 
the  first.  Christ  dignifies  every  thing  with 
which  he  is  connected.  Union  with  him  is 
life  from  the  dead.  If  we  are  guilty,  he  has 
stoned;   if  we  are  vile,  he  is  worthy;  if  we 

naught,  he  is  all  in  all..  And  then  he  is 
so  gracious  to  the  needy  and  guilty  and  faint 
and  trembling.     See  how  he  reasons  with  the 


416      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

desponding  disciples  on  the  way  to  Emmaus. 
During  his  ministry  he  granted  great  blessings 
even  to  those  who  approached  him  doubting 
and  saying,  "If  thou  wilt,"  or,  "If  thou  canst." 
When  the  poor  afflicted  woman  thought  to  steal 
a  blessing  from  him  and  escape  his  notice,  he 
stopped  her,  but  only  to  deal  kindly  with  her. 
Christ  never  puts  new  wine  into  old  bottles. 
Some  men  begin  their  ministry  with  denun- 
ciations and  threatenings  of  the  law ;  but  from 
the  first  Christ  pronounced  blessings  on  the 
humble.  The  very  last  words  in  the  Bible 
are  :  "  The  grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  be 
with  you  all.  Amen."  There  are  heights, 
and  depths,  and  lengths,  and  breadths  of 
mercy  in  Christ  beyond  all  human  necessities, 
miseries,  and  sins.  To  be  in  Christ  is  heaven 
begun.  To  be  with  Christ  and  like  Christ  is 
heaven  completed.  His  mercies  are  shore- 
less, fathomless,  eternal,  unchangeable.  He 
has  helped  myriads  to  glory  who  were  as  weak> 
as  unworthy,  as  desponding  as  any  of  us. 

6.  To  his  sincere  followers  Christ  has  a 
tender  regard  at  all  times  and  in  all  trials. 
His  kind  providence  over  them  is  constant, 
wise,  and  wonderful.  With  them  every  thing 
has  a  good  issue.     With  them  all  is  for  the 


THE  GENTLENESS  OF  CHBIST.       417 

best.  Every  thing  helps  on  the  saints  to 
glory.  To  the  deeply  afflicted,  the  Saviour 
gays:  "As  many  as  I  love,  I  rebuke  and 
chasten  ;"  "wherefore  lift  up  the  hands  which 
hang  down,  and  the  feeble  knees."  Your 
brethren  may  cast  you  out  under  pretence  of 
glorifying  God ;  but  he  shall  appear  to  your 
joy,  and  they  shall  be  ashamed.     Isa.  66 : 5. 

7.  Christ  surely  includes  the  case  of  even 
the  feeblest  and  most  desponding  of  his  peo- 
ple when  he  speaks  of  them  as  his  little  ones. 
He  will  certainly  avenge  the  wrongs  of  such. 
He  regards  them  as  the  apple  of  his  eye.  He 
knows  their  sins,  and  errors,  and  follies,  but 
he  loves  them  still  and  tenderly.  They  may 
be  babes  and  sucklings,  yet  out  of  their  mouth 
he  will  ordain  praise.  Their  weakness  affords 
him  a  welcome  opportunity  to  show  pity  and 
condescension.  His  are  the  compassions  of  a 
God.  He  is  the  express  image  of  his  Father, 
and  his  spirit  is  as  loving  as  the  Father's  to 
the  Son. 

8.  In  his  word  Christ  fully  authorizes  us 
to  persuade  all  his  people,  even  the  humblest, 
to  look  at  the  quality  rather  than  the  quantity 
of  their  attainments.  The  stronger  our  graces 
the  better.     Christian  character  cannot  be  too 

18* 


418      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

vigorous.  Nor  should  any  sit  down  contented 
with  small  acquirements.  But  any  real  grace 
is  a  token  for  good.  A  shilling  may  be  as  good 
money  as  a  pound.  A  dew-drop  is  as  truly 
water  as  the  ocean.  A  spark  has  the  nature 
of  fire  no  less  than  the  glowings  of  a  furnace. 
Kind  is  one  thing  ;  degree  is  another.  To 
doubt  the  genuineness  of  our  faith  because 
we  have  not  full  assurance  is  not  wise.  He 
to  whom  Christ  is  precious,  to  whom  the  word 
of  God  is  sweeter  than  honey,  to  whom  sin  is 
odious,  to  whom  secret  devotion  is  a  delight, 
who  makes  it  the  business  of  his  life  to  honor 
his  Master,  and  who  regards  the  world  as  a 
broken  idol,  has  the  witness  that  he  is  passed 
from  death  unto  life.  "  It  is  safer  to  be  hum- 
ble with  one  talent  than  proud  with  ten  •  yea, 
better  to  be  a  humble  worm  than  a  proud 
angel."*  "He  that  is  contented  with  just 
grace  enough  to  get  to  heaven  and  escape 
hell,  and  desires  no  more,  may  be  sure  he 
has  none  at  all,  and  is  far  from  being  made 
partaker  of  the  divine  nature. "f 

9.  If  the  trembling  and  feeble  would  have 
the  full  comfort  of  Christ's  salvation,  let  them 
do  his  will.     In  keeping  the  commandments 

*  Flavel.  t  Janeway. 


THE  GENTLENESS  OF  CHRIST.       419 

there  is  great  reward.  "If  ye  know  these 
things,  happy  arc  ye  if  ye  do  them."  When- 
ever we  wander  from  the  path  of  duty,  we 
weaken  our  principles  and  wound  our  con- 
sciences. Let  us  carefully  guard  against  cen- 
sor iousness  and  severity  of  judgment.  Let  us 
forgive,  as  we  hope  to  be  forgiven.  Let  us 
love  others  as  Christ  has  loved  us.  Let  us 
wait  upon  the  Lord  in  all  his  ordinances.  If 
Paul  could  not  do  what  he  would,  he  would 
yet  do  what  he  could.  "Prayer  and  pains, 
through  faith  that  is  in  Christ  Jesus,  can  do 
all  things,"  says  Eliot.  No  man  ever  sin- 
cerely did  what  he  honestly  believed  to  be 
his  duty,  and  then  solely  relied  on  the  infinite 
mercy  of  God  in  Christ,  and  yet  came  short  of 
heaven.  But  wo  must  obey  as  well  as  trust. 
W<i  must  do  the  will  of  God,  as  well  as  hope 
in  liis  mercy.  "Blessed  are  they  that  do  his 
commandments,  that  they  may  have  right  to 
th<'  tree  of  life,  and  may  enter  in  through  the 

-  into  the  city." 

in.  It  would  greatly  comfort  all  God's 
people,  if  they  would  rely  more  upon  the 
proi  vciiaiit,  and  oath  of  God,  ami  less 

on  their  own  frames  of  mind  and  heart.  Our 
feeling!  vary  with  a  thousand  influences;  but 


420     THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

the  covenant  of  G-od  is  sure  and  unchangea- 
ble. "  If  we  believe  not,  yet  he  abideth  faith- 
ful :  he  cannot  deny  himself."  The  life  of  the 
believer  is  hid  with  Christ  in  God.  He  is 
like  mount  Zion,  which  cannot  be  moved.  But 
0  how  variable  are  his  feelings  ;  how  easily 
discouraged  is  his  heart.  If  left  to  himself, 
he  must  fail.  But  Jesus  never  changes.  His 
mercy  is  from  everlasting  to  everlasting  upon 
them  that  fear  him  and  keep  his  covenant. 
He  pities  like  a  God.  He  pours  water  upon 
him  that  is  thirsty,  and  floods  upon  the  dry 
ground. 

11.  Let  all  believers  remember  that  they 
are  not  forbidden  the  nearest  access  to  Grod. 
The  covenant  is  as  sure  to  the  trembling  and 
feeble  as  to  any  others.  Christ's  power  is 
made  perfect  in  man's  weakness.  If  he  ac- 
cepted and  saved  none  but  the  strong  and  res- 
olute and  unwavering,  who  would  be  saved? 
Did  ever  a  good  husband  neglect  a  wife  be- 
cause she  t  was  weak  and  timid  ?  and  is  not 
Christ  the  husband  of  all  that  put  their  trust 
in  him  ?  He  says  :  ' '  For  a  small  moment 
have  I  forsaken  thee,  but  with  great  mercies 
will  I  gather  thee.  In  a  little  wrath  I  hid  my 
face  from  thee  for  a  moment ;  but  with  ever- 


THE  GENTLENESS  OF  CHKIST.       421 

lasting  kindness  will  I  have  mercy  on  thee, 
saitli  the  Lord  thy  Redeemer."  Jehovah,  he 
is  God.  Let  his  people  shout  for  joy.  Let 
his  ministers  speak  a  word  in  season  to  him 
that  is  weary.  Let  all  the  saints  comfort  the 
feeble-minded.  Let  despondent,  yet  sincere 
believers,  hope  in  God,  for  their  redemption 
draweth  nigh. 


422      THE  BOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 


CHAPTEE   XXIII. 

CHRIST    SHALL    YET    HAVE    A    GLOEIOUS 
REWARD. 

There  is  a  general  impression  among 
Christians  that  true  religion  will  yet  pervade 
the  earth.  There  is  a  difference  among  some 
good  people  as  to  the  manner  in  which  this 
work  will  be  accomplished ;  but  all  agree  as 
to  the  fact.  Neither  do  we  know  the  time 
when  the  inconceivable  blessings  of  the  gospel 
shall  be  made  known  to  all  men.  ' '  In  giving 
us  prophecies,  Grod  did  not  intend  to  make 
prophets  of  us."  Yet  we  may  modestly  in- 
quire what  and  what  manner  of  time  the 
Spirit  of  Christ  did  signify,  when  he  foretold 
the  latter-day  glory.  Much  prophecy  is  yet 
to  be  fulfilled,  and  some  prophecies  are  now 
in  course  of  actual  fulfilment. 

.  I.  Let  us  take  a  brief  view  of  the  pres- 
ent MORAL  STATE  OF  THE  WORLD.      It  is  adlllit- 

|  ted  that  appearances  are  often  dark ;  and  that 
the  aspect  of  the  world  is  discouraging. 

Now  and  then  Atheism  proclaims  its  tenets, 
is  confident  that  mankind  are  superstitious  in 
their  worship  of  Jehovah,  makes  its  disciples  of 


CHRIST'S  GLORIOUS  REWARD.       423 

the  drunkard,  the  licentious,  the  prostitute,  and 
the  blasphemer,  and  once  in  a  while  threatens 
a  terrific  eruption  of  its  scalding  lava  on  the 
nice  of  society.  Its  latest  form  of  develop- 
ment is  in  a  wretched  Pantheism. 

Infidelity  still  uses  great  swelling  words 
of  vanity,  makes  hard  and  ungodly  speeches 
respecting  Jehovah  and  his  saints,  often  spews 
out  its  venom  against  all  that  is  pure  and 
holy,  asserts  the  sufficiency  of  human  reason 
as  a  guide  to  heaven,  betakes  itself  to  the 
caves  of  sorcery,  and  can  boast  of  nothing 
better  than  a  death  without  hope,  and  a  grave 
without  a  resurrection. 

Gentilism  still  boasts  her  myriads  of  altars, 
purple  with  human  gore  and  smoking  with 
abominable  incense.  What  heathenism  once 
was,  it  still  is.  The  pencil  of  inspiration  lias 
drawn  a  perfect  portrait  of  it,  Rom.  1 :  21-32. 
For  marly  six  thousand  years  the  pagan 
world  has  been  seeking  an  image  of  the  invis- 
ible God,  and  the  summit  of  its  aspirings  still 

ohes  no  higher  than  the  sun,  or  moon,  or 

ra,  or  devils,  or  crocodiles,  or  peacocks,  or 

aerpents,  or  images  of  gold,  silver,  wood,  or 

morals  never  meucL     Dnder  i(s 

saiKlioii-  every  precept  of  the  decalogue  is 


424     THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

broken  publicly  and  privately,  ritually  and 
legally.  No  marvel  that  when  Satan  is  wor- 
shipped there  should  be  found  habitations  of 
cruelty.  No  nation  without  God's  word  has 
in  its  language  any  term  expressing  what 
Christians  mean  by  sanctification.  Corrup- 
tion is  and  ever  has  been  the  alpha  and  the 
omega  of  G-entilism.  One  of  the  greatest  ben- 
efits derived  from  reading  the  early  Christian 
fathers  is  the  insight  thus  obtained  into  the 
abominations  from  which  the  gospel  saved  us. 
All  that  is  stupid  in  the  ass,  silly  in  the  dove, 
filthy  in  the  swine,  fierce  in  wild  beasts,  and 
venomous  in  serpents,  is  fitly  ascribed  to  hea- 
thenism. 

Although  just  now  somewhat  shorn  of  his 
power  to  persecute,  the  prophet  of  Mecca  still 
practises  his  sorceries,  maddens  the  passions 
of  men,  holds  the  cup  of  carnal  delight  to  the 
lips  of  his  besotted  worshippers,  and  endeav- 
ors to  light  up  the  horrors  of  the  grave  by 
pointing  to  a  Paradise  of  sin. 

Notwithstanding  all  that  has  been  done  in 
blessing  and  in  cursing,  in  fulfilling  prophecy, 
and  in  setting  up  Messiah's  kingdom,  Juda- 
ism is  still  intrenched  behind  Targums,  Para- 
phrasts,  an  oral  law,  endless  traditions,  and 


CHRIST'S  GLORIOUS  REWARD.       425 

the  most  inveterate  prejudices  and  enmity 
against  the  truth.  Thus  it  is  with  things 
claiming  no  connection  whatever  with  Chris- 
tianity. When  we  come  to  nations  profes- 
sedly accepting  the  gospel,  there  is  still  much 
to  dishearten. 

The  Oriental  church  still  adheres  to  her 
ignorant  priesthood,  her  sacraments  of  human 
invention,  her  apostolic  supremacy,  and  her 
nearness  to  Messiah's  sepulchre  ;  but  knows 
not  that  she  is  poor,  and  miserable,  and  blind, 
and  naked,  far  from  Christ's  precepts,  far  from 
his  example,  far  from,  his  doctrines.  In  the 
pride  of  her  apostolicity  she  renounces  every 
distinctive  truth  taught  by  apostles. 

She,  that  has  made  the  kings,  merchants, 
and  dwellers  on  earth  drunk  with  the  wine  of 
her  fornications,  holds  forth  other  goblets  to 
the  nations,  saying:  "I  have  perfumed  my 
bed  with  myTrh,  aloes,  and  cinnamon.  Come, 
let  us  take  our  fill."  Follow  her  footsteps  to 
any  region  of  the  world,  and  you  find  that 
11  the  doctrine  of  the  cross  is  least  understood 
where  crosses  most  abound."  The  lamp  of 
God's  Word  is  put  under  a  bushel,  waxen 
tapeie  are  substituted,  and  darkness  becomes 
visible. 


426      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

Universalism  still  teaches  -that  the  wheat 
and  the  tares  shall  both  be  gathered  into  the 
garner,  that  the  sheep  and  the  goats  shall  be 
for  ever  in  the  same  fold,  that  hell  is  a  fiction, 
and  damnation  a  chimera. 

Pelagianism  is  not  dead.  It  does  not  even 
sleep,  but  still  preaches  human  ability,  and 
boasts  of  the  ease  with  which  the  Ethiopian 
can  change  his  skin,  and  the  leopard  his  spots. 
It  boldly  calls  evil  good,  and  bitter  sweet.  It 
denies  the  need  of  efficacious  grace. 

In  its  grossness  Socinianism  still  talks 
about  a  created  God,  <ind  speaks  loudly  in 
praise  of  virtue,  though  its  rules  and  motives 
for  a  pious  life  are  no  better  than  those  of 
Epictetus. 

Unitarianism  tells  of  the  magnificent  Jesus, 
philosophizes  into  thin  air  the  vital  doctrines 
of  the  gospel,  emblematizes  the  blood  ol 
Christ,  and  raises  its  hideous  voice  against  a 
vicarious  atonement. 

Arianism  soars  to  its  usual  adventurous 
heights,  and  speaks  of  a  grade  above  finite 
and  below  infinite.  It  discusses  divinity  as 
though  by  searching  it  could  find  out  the 
Almigjity  to  perfection. 

Then,  too,  we  meet  fanaticism,  presenting 


CHRIST'S  GLORIOUS  REWARD.       427 

us  a  congeries  of  wild  speculation,  silly  pur- 
pose and  vicious  practice.  Break  up  its  nest 
among  the  lawless,  and  presently  you  shall 
hear  of  it  among  the  orthodox  pretending  to 
aid  in  a  revival  of  religion. 

And  Antinomianism —  that  horror  of  all 
good  men — still  flourishes  in  many  places.  It 
boldly  marches  up  to  the  cross  of  Christ,  and 
from  his  precious  blood  draws  arguments  for 
living  in  sin.*  By  its  want  of  good  fruit  ye 
shall  know  it. 

Besides,  a  low  state  of  piety  paralyzes 
half  the  limbs  of  the  body  of  Christ.  Cold 
and  selfish,  many  never  aim  high.  A  low 
estimate  of  evangelical  doctrine  makes  many 
indifferent  to  the  teachings  of  Christ  himself. 
Often  t<><)  do  we  hear  unpleasant  whisperings 
and  bnzzings  in  the  camp  of  Israel.  Some  act 
ii-  if  they  would  rather  make  a  proselyte  from 
church  than  a  convert  to  Christ  who 
would  not  follow  with  them.  The  standard 
of  Christian  manners  and  morals  is  low. 
Doubts  of  personal  piety  aillict  many  of 
Christ's  professed  followers.  Sadly  is  the 
Christian  profession  compromised.  Covetous- 
h;is  fearful  power.  The  lust  of  the  flesh, 
the  lust  of  the  eye,  and  the  pride  of  life  ter- 


428      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

ribly  prevail.  Fashion  is  the  Juggernaut  of 
Christendom.  Christ  and  Belial  are  invited 
to  the  same  feast.  The  Sabbath  is  in  danger 
of  being  buried  under  railroads.  Blasphemy 
vomits  forth  her  poison.  The  church  is  a  vas- 
sal often  ingloriously  chained  to  the  car  of 
state.  The  seed  of  the  bondwoman  lords  it 
over  the  seed  of  the  free  woman.  Tyranny, 
like  the  owl,  loves  darkness,  and  binds  the 
masses  in  chains  of  ignorance.*  Often  the 
shaking  of  the  nations  makes  the  loops  of 
society  fall  from  their  ancient  fastenings  and 
introduces  wild  lawlessness.  Yet  there  is  no 
room  for  despair. 

II.  Let  us  consider  some  of  the  encour- 
agements TO  HOPE  FOR  THE  WIDE   SPREAD   OF 

truth  and  righteousness.  The  promises  of 
God  and  the  prophecies  of  Scripture,  like  the 
udders  of  well-fed  kine,  are  well  distended  and 
full  of  fatness.  "  All  the  promises  do  travail." 
Sixteen  hundred  and  eighty-nine  years  before 
the  Christian  era,  Jacob  says,  '  ■  Unto  Shiloh 
shall  the  gathering  of  the  people  be."  G-en. 
49  : 1 0.  Six  hundred  and  sixty-six  years  later, 
the  prophet  David  speaking  in -the  name  of 
God  to  Messiah,  says :  "Ask  of  me  and  I  shall 
give  thee  the  heathen  for  thine  inheritance, 


CHRIST'S  GLORIOUS  REWARD.       429 

and  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  earth  for  thy 
possession. "  Ps.  2:8.  Three  hundred  and 
eleven  years  later,  by  Isaiah,  Jehovah  says : 
"Behold,  my  servant  shall  deal  prudently, 
he  shall  be  exalted  and  extolled,  and  be  very 
high.  ...  He  shall  see  his  seed;  he  shall  pro- 
long his  days.  ...  He  shall  see  of  the  travail 
of  his  soul,  and  shall  be  satisfied."  Isa.  52 :  13  j 
53  :  10,  11.  A  hundred  and  fifty-seven  years 
later,  the  great  prophet  of  the  captivity  says  : 
"I  saw  in  the  night  visions,  and  behold, 
one  like  the  Son  of  man  came  with  the  clouds 
of  heaven,  and  came  to  the  Ancient  of  da}^s, 
and  they  brought  him  near  before  him.  And 
there  was  given  him  dominion,  and  glory,  and 
a  kingdom,  that  all  people,  nations,  and  lan- 
guages should  serve  him:  his  dominion  is  an 
everlasting  dominion,  which  shall  not  pass 
away,  and  his  kingdom  that  which  shall  not 
be  destroyed."  Dan.  7  :  13,  14.  In  this  pas- 
.  by  the  "  Son  of  man"  we  are  clearly  to 
understand  the  incarnate  Saviour ;  and  by 
"the  Ancient  of  days"  the  everlasting  God, 
ted  on  (he  throne  of  the  universe.  The 
coming  of  the  Son  of  man  with  the  clouds  of 
heaven  wafi  liis  ascension  to  the  right  hand  of 
God.    This  prediction  was  to  begin  to  be  ful- 


430      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

filled  after  the  establishment  of  the  Boman 
empire,  spoken  of  in  the  same  chapter  as 
the  fourth  beast,  dreadful  and  terrible,  and 
strong  exceedingly,  having  great  iron  teeth, 
devouring,  breaking  in  pieces,  and  stamping 
the  residue  with  the  feet  of  it,  diverse  from  all 
the  other  beasts  that  were  before  it,  and  hav- 
ing ten  horns,  ver.  7.  The  terms  "dominion, 
glory,  and  a  kingdom,'7  denote  the  extent, 
grandeur,  and  permanency  of  the  possession 
purchased  by  Christ,  and  secured  to  him  by 
covenant.  What  Daniel  therefore  saw  was, 
"that  in  the  vigor  of  the  Eoman  empire  Jesus 
Christ  ascended  to  his  God  and  Father,  the 
Ancient/>f  days,  and  took  his  seat  at  his  right 
hand,  and  received  a  title  to  and  entered  on 
the  possession  of  a  kingdom,  grand,  glorious, 
and  permanent/"'  Other  Scriptures  declare 
that  under  the  reign  of  Messiah  "the  earth 
shall  be  full  of  the  knowledge  of  the  Lord,  as 
the  waters  cover  the  sea."  "  The  light  of  the 
moon  shall  be  as  the  light  of  the  sun,  and  the 
light  of  the  sun  shall  be  sevenfold  as  the 
light  of  seven  days."  Isa.  11 : 9  ;  30 :  26.  With 
these  texts  compare  Ps.  22  :  27-31 ;  72  :  19  ; 
Hab.  2:14;  Zech.  14:9.  These  passages 
clearly  indicate  a  state  of  things  not  yet  ful- 


CHRIST'S  GLORIOUS  REWARD.       431 

filled  in  the  history  of  the  world.  There  is1 
no  method  of  interpreting  language  so  as  to 
confine  these  predictions  to  the  past.  Christ 
has  not  yet  had  his  reward  in  the  gathering 
of  the  nations.  Great  and  glorious  things 
may  properly  be  expected  in  behalf  of  Zion. 

Xor  are  pleasing  indications  entirely 
wanting. 

The  present  mode  of  studying  the  Bible 
in  the  original,  so  generally  adopted  by  many 
of  God's  ministers,  is  favorable  to  a  clear 
understanding  of  Scripture  doctrine.  It  often 
looks  as  if  Providence  was  erecting  machinery 
that  was  to  move  the  world.  There  is  a  bles- 
sed sisterhood  of  institutions,  cooperating  for 
the  spread  of  the  truth.  All  modern  contro- 
versies have  been  handled  to  the  advantage  of 
sound  Christianity.  In  no  case  has  the  enemy 
gained  any  decided  or  permanent  victory. 
Modern  Inventions  are  generally  capable  of 

ig  turned  to  good  account.  Commonly 
they  have  had  a  good  influence.  Many  great 
political  changes  have  favored  freedom  of  in- 
quiry, tin'  reading  of  God's  word,  and  a  sense 
of  individual  responsibility] 

The  general  ordcrings  of  Providence  in 
this   age   have    favored    the   church.      Great 


432      THE  EOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

success  has  attended  many  efforts  to  spread 
the  gospel,  especially  among  the  most  de- 
graded tribes  of  men.  The  hope  of  better 
days  powerfully  animates  the  bosoms  of  many 
throughout  the  world.  What  has  been  done 
in  the  last  seventy  years  is  great  compared  with 
what  was  done  for  the  same  time  preceding ; 
yet  much  remains  to  be  done ;  large  portions 
of  the  world  are  still  sunk  in  gross  darkness. 

III.  What  can  we  do  to  promote  the 
cause  op  Christ?  It  should  not  discourage 
us  that  we  can  do  nothing  efficiently.  The 
excellency  of  the  power  is  of  God.  We  may 
plant  and  water,  but  God  alone  can  give  the 
increase.  This  is,  on  many  accounts,  the  best 
arrangement.  If  we  depend  on  God,  we  shall 
not  be  disappointed.  If  he  does  the  work,  it 
will  be  well  done,  and  to  him,  without  dis- 
pute, will  be  all  the  glory.  Yet  we  may  do 
much  instrumentally . 

We  may  keep  ourselves  and  those  under 
our  influence  informed  respecting  the  state  of 
the  world.  It  is  a  great  thing  to  know  and  to 
make  known  how  men  are  living  in  sin  and 
dying  in  despair,  having  a  dismal  eternity 
before  them,  and  their  ruin  being  unneces- 
sary, salvation  having  been  provided,  a  min- 


CHEIST'S  GLORIOUS  REWAKD.       433 

istry  instituted,  and  a  glorious  gospel  com- 
manded to  be  preached. 

We  may  cultivate  an  ardent  love  to  the 
souls  of  men.  Oh  that  there  were  a  thou- 
sand times  more  of  that  godlike  spirit  which 
Shaftsbury  scornfully  called  a  "rage  for  saving 
souls."  No  man  ever  had  too  much  love  or 
pity  for  those  that  were  perishing  under  the 
load  of  their  guilt  and  in  the  horrors  of  their 
depravity.  It  is  easy  to  over-estimate  wealth, 
honor,  station,  but  it  is  not  possible  to  set  too 
high  a  value  on  the  salvation  of  a  soul  by 
Jesus  Christ 

We  may  all  encourage,  and  should  never 
discourage,  wise  and  practicable  schemes  of 

ulness.  Let  us  hinder  nothing  good.  Let 
us  do  all  we  can  to  cheer  the  hearts  and 
strengthen  the  hands  of  all  faithful  laborers, 
even  if  they  follow  not  with  us. 

Let  us  believe  assuredly  that  all  flesh  shall 
see  the  salvation  of  God,  for  the  mouth  of  the 
rd  hath  spoken  it.  The  decree  has  gone 
rth.  Every  knee  shall  bow,  and  every 
tongue  confess  that  Jesus  Christ  is  Lord,  to 
the  glory  of  God  the  Father..  The  whole 
work  of  evangelizing  the  world  is  a  work 
of  faith.     0  have  faitli  in  Qod, 

Bock  of  kla  19 


sec 

for 


4:34      THE  BOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

In  particular,  have  faith  in  Christ,  in  his 
mediation,  in  his  ability  to  execute  all  his  offi- 
ces. He  ^as  dominion  over  wicked  men  and 
devils.  "All  power  in  heaven  and  earth  is 
given  to"  him.  He  saves,  and  he  destroys. 
He  kills,  and  he  makes  alive.  He  has  the 
keys  of  death  and  of  hell.  He  does  all  his 
pleasure  in  all  worlds.  For  the  good  of  his 
church  he  orders  all  things.  He  and  his  peo- 
ple are  so  far  one,  that  in  all  their  affliction  he  is 
afflicted,  and  in  all  his  glory  they  rejoice.  That 
which,  in  Daniel  7:14,  is  said  to  be  given  to 
Christ,  is  in  the  same  chapter,  verse  27,  said 
to  be  given  to  the  saints  of  the  Most  High. 
When  Christ  is  glorified,  his  people  shout  for 
joy.  When  they  are  glorified,  they  enter  into 
the  joy  of  their  Lord. 

The  desire  to  spread  the  gospel  belongs  to 
the  very  spirit  of  piety.  "  Let  him  that  hear- 
eth  say,  Come."  He  who  thinks  he  has  es- 
caped perdition,  and  has  no  desire  to  rescue 
others  from  wrath,  does  not  know  his  own 
heart.  He  that  is  begotten  of  God  loves  his 
fellow-men.     He  longs  for  their  salvation. 

God's  people  can  pray  for  the  reign  of 
grace  over  all  the  earth.  Such  supplications 
are  agreeable  to  the  will  of  God.   Psa.  122 : 6. 


CHRIST'S  GLORIOUS  REWARD.       435 

The  first  three  petitions  of  the  Lord's  prayer 
embrace  the  same  subject.  There  is  too  little 
united,  hearty  calling  on  God.  All  the  prog- 
ress hitherto  made  in  bringing  men  to  a,  saving 
knowledge  of  the  Redeemer  has  been  in  an- 
swer to  the  fervent  cries  of  the  children  of 
God.  There  is  nothing  more  powerful  for 
good  than  prayer. 

Those  who  know  somewhat  the  doleful  case 
of  the  heathen,  ought  to  plead  their  cause  be- 
fore all  Christian  people.  Mankind  are  slow 
to  believe  how  terribly  the  perishing  nations 
have  multiplied  their  sorrows  by  hastening 
after  other  gods  than  Jehovah. 

Every  member  of  the  church  should  be 
trained  and  urged  to  do  his  full  share  of 
the  great  work.  He  should  know  his  place, 
and  keep  it.  He  should  love  to  do  what  he 
can  for  BO  blessed  a  cause. 

All  the  (lunches  should  be  trained  to  lib- 
erality in  giving  their  worldly  substance  for 
spreading  the  gospel.  Systematic,  benevo- 
lence is  loudly  called  for.  We  must  learn  to 
carry  our  liberality  to  the  extent  of  self-denial. 
We  niii-i  remember  the  power  of  littles.  The 
d  consists  of  the  aggregation  of  drops. 

Our  young  men  must  freely  give  them- 


436      THE  EOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

selves  to  the  work  of  the  ministry  at  home 
and  abroad.  Parents  must  cheerfully  give 
their  sons  to  this  service.  It  must  come  to 
be,  in  popular  esteem,  an  honor  to  serve  the 
Lord  in  any  way  his  providence  may  permit. 
Why  is  the  ministry  so  lighty  esteemed  ? 
Why  do  we  so  seldom  find  a  Hannah,  a  Eu- 
nice, or  a  Monica  in  the  church  of  God?  One 
well-qualified,  laborious  minister  of  the  gospel 
is  commonly  far  more  useful  than  two  men  of 
equal  talents  in  any  other  calling.  It  is  enough 
to  break  the  heart  to  see  revival  after  revival 
without  a  host  of  young  men  rising  up  to  pub- 
lish salvation. 

There  should  be  a  much  deeper  tone  of 
piety  in  all  the  churches.  Love  is  too  cold. 
Faith  too  often  staggers.  Eepentance  sheds 
too  few  tears.  Joy  has  but  few  feasts.  Pity 
for  the  perishing  too  seldom  stirs  the  soul 
to  its  depths.  Adoring  views  of  God  have 
too  little  power  over  men's  minds.  Hope 
is  too  feeble  to  impart  much  animation.  "  In 
doing  good,"  says  Burke,  "we  are  generally 
cold,  and  languid,  and  sluggish,  and  of  all 
things,  afraid  of  being  too  much  in  the  right. 
But  the  works  of  malice  and  injustice  are  quite 
in  another  style.     They  are  finished  with  a 


CHRIST'S  GLORIOUS  REWARD.       437 

bold,  masterly  hand,  touched  as  they  are  with 
the  spirit  of  those  vehement  passions  that  call 
forth  all  our  energies  when  we  oppress  and 
persecute."  Oh  that  ministers  and  people, 
fathers  and  mothers,  young  men  and  maidens 
loved  as  they  should  a  dying  world,  and  la- 
bored as  they  ought  to  turn  many  to  right- 
eousness. 

PRAYER. 

Holy,  holy,  holy  Lord  God  of  hosts !  The 
whole  earth  is  full  of  thy  glory.  Blessed  be 
the  Lord  for  the  precious  things  of  heaven, 
for  the  dew,  and  for  the  deep  that  coucheth 
beneath,  and  for  the  precious  fruits  brought 
forth  by  the  sun,  and  for  the  precious  things 
put  forth  by  the  moon,  and  for  the  chief  things 
of  the  ancient  mountains,  and  for  the  precious 
things  of  the  lasting  hills,  and  for  the  precious 
things  of  the  earth,  and  the  fulness  thereof. 
Still  more  would  we  bless  thee  for  the  good  will 
of  Ilim  that  dwelt  in  the  bush,  and  for  thy 
precious  loving-kindness,  and  for  the  precious 
seed  of  gospel  truth,  and  for  the  precious  prom- 
and  lor  precious  faith  to  believe  thy  word, 
and  for  the  precious  sons  of  Zion,  comparable 
to  fine  gold,  and  for  the  precious  death  of  thy 


438      THE  KOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

saints,  and  for  the  precious  name  of  Jesus, 
which  is  as  ointment  poured  forth,  and  for  the 
precious  blood  of  the  Son  of  God,  through 
whom  we  have  redemption. 

Look  in  mercy  on  this  dark  world.  Ee- 
member  Zion.  Make  Joseph  a  fruitful  bough, 
whose  branches  run  over  the  wall.  Oh  that 
the  salvation  of  Israel  were  come  out  of  Zion. 
Bring  back  the  captivity  of  thy  people,  that 
Jacob  may  rejoice  and  Israel  be  glad.  Thou 
hast  set  thy  Son  on  thy  holy  hill  of  Zion. 
Eighteousness  is  the  girdle  of  his  loins,  and 
faithfulness  the  girdle  of  his  reins.  Hasten 
the  time  when  the  wolf  shall  dwell  with  the 
lamb  and  the  leopard  shall  lie  down  with  the 
kid,  the  calf  and  the  young  lion  and  the  fat- 
ling  together,  and  a  child  shall  lead  them  ; 
and  the  cow  and  the  bear  shall  feed,  and  their 
young  ones  lie  down  together,  and  the  suck- 
ing child  shall  play  on  the  hole  of  the  asp, 
and  the  nations  shall  learn  war  no  more,  and 
thy  ancient  people  the  Jews  and  the  fulness 
of  the  G-entiles  shall  be  brought  in ;  when  the 
kingdoms  of  the  world  shall  become  the  king- 
doms of  the  Lord  and  of  his  Christ ;  when  the 
Lord  shall  call  them  his  people  which  are  not 
now  his  people ;  when  the  angel  shall  fly  in 


CHRIST'S  GLORIOUS  REWARD.       439 

the  midst  of  heaven,  having  the  everlasting 
gospel  to  preach  unto  them  that  dwell  on  the 
earth,  and  to  every  nation,  and  kindred,  and 
tongue,  and  people. 

Lord  God  of  hosts,  cut  short  the  work  in 
righteousness.  Let  the  ploughman  overtake 
the  reaper,  and  let  a  nation  be  born  in  a  day. 

"Fity  the  nations,  O  our  God ; 
Constrain  the  earth  to  come  ; 
Send  thy  victorious  word  abroad, 
And  bring  the  strangers  home." 

We  are  indeed  asking  great  things,  but  we 
do  it  at  thy  command.  We  ask  no  more  than 
thou  hast  promised  to  thy  Son,  and  no  more 
than  he  has  purchased  by  his  most  precious 
blood,  and  no  more  than  he  himsQlf  intercedes 
for  in  heaven.     Amen. 


440     THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

THE  GOSPEL  OF  CHEIST  IS  HID  FEOM  SOME. 

"The  beauty  of  Scripture, "  says  Luther, 
"  consists  in  pronouns."  It  is  sweet  to  find 
such  Scriptures  as  these  :  "/am  the  Lord  thy 
God;'7  "/  have  called  thee  by  thy  name;" 
"/am  with  thee;  /will  strengthen  thee;  1 
will  uphold  thee  with  the  right  hand  of  my 
righteousness." 

The  heart  delights  in  fastening  its  affec- 
tions on  spiritual  things,  and  calling  them  its 
own.  This  is  laying  hold  on  eternal  life. 
Thus  the  soul  tastes  and  sees  that  the  Lord 
is  gracious.  "What  could  the  saints  do  were 
they  never  permitted  to  claim  an  interest  in 
heavenly  things ?  Wilkinson  says :  "All  con- 
solation in  religion  is  connected  with  appro- 
priation." Accordingly  Job  says,  "I  know 
that  my  Eedeemer  liveth."  David:  "Unto 
thee  will  I  cry,  0  Lord  my  rock."  In  the 
Canticles  the  church  says,  uMy  Beloved  is 
mine,  and  /am  his."  Thomas  said,  " My  Lord 
and  my  God."    Paul  says,  "He  loved  me  and 


THE  GOSPEL  HIDDEN.  441 

gave  himself  for  me;"  "/know  whom  /have 
believed." 

Nor  is  there  anything  selfish  or  exclusive 
in  this  appropriation.  The  saints  delight  to 
have  others  joint  partakers  with  them  in  the 
infinite  benefits  of  salvation.     The  psalmist 

9 :  "  0  Lord  our  Lord,  how  excellent  is 
thy  name  in  all  the  earth;"  "The  Lord  of 
hosts  is  with  119;  the  God  of  Jacob  is  our  ref- 
uge." John  says,  "  Behold  what  manner  of 
love  the  Father  hath  bestowed  upon  us,  that 
we  should  be  called  the  sons  of  God."  In  like 
manner  Christians  commonly  speak  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  of  our  brethren.  If  we 
are  believers,  to  us  pertain  the  adoption,  and 
the  glory,  and  the  covenants,  and  the  service 
of  God,  and  the  promises.  Paql  saj's,  "  Who 
shall  separate  us  from  the  love  of  Christ?" 
lie  also  saya  that  those  that  call  on  Jesus 
Christ  as  Lord,  own  him  as  both  theirs  and 
Be  farther  says  to  the  Corinthians, 
"We  arc  your  rejoicing,  even  as  ye  also  arc 
in  the  day  of  the  Lord  Jesus."     Jucto 

akfl  of  the  common  salvation,  that  is,  tin' 
salvation  in  which  all  believers  have  a  joint 

interest,  and  arc  made  fellow-heirs. 

So  also  Paul  Bpeake  of  "our  gospel,"  as 

19* 


442      THE  EOCK  OF  OUK  SALVATION. 

though  he  and  his  brethren  were  joint  parta- 
kers of  its  benefits,  as  well  as  unitedly  con- 
cerned to  make  it  known.  "If  our  gospel  be 
hid,  it  is  hid  to  them  that  are  lost."  Yery  awful 
language  is  this,  and  the  more  so  as  the  same 
thing  is  taught  in  other  Scriptures:  "The 
preaching  of  the  cross  is  to  them  that  perish 
foolishness j"  "Behold,  ye  despisers,  and  won- 
der, and  perish."  2  Cor.  4 :  3 ;  1  Cor.  1 :  18  ; 
Acts  13 :41.  Let  us  consider  this  solemn  mat- 
ter under  the  form  of  speech  just  cited :  "  If  our 
gospel  be  hid,  it  is  hid  to  them  that  are  lost/5 
We  may  inquire — 

I.  LST  WHAT  SENSE  THE  GOSPEL  IS  NOT  HID 
FROM  ANY  OF  US. 

1.  The  gospel  is  not  hid  from  any  of  us  in 
the  same  sense  in  which  it  is  hid  from  the 
brutes.  These  have  no  natural  capacities 
for  understanding,  receiving,  or  enjoying  the 
gospel  under  any  culture,  however  wisely  or 
assiduously  administered.  The  God  who  made 
them  has  given  them  neither  minds  nor  hearts 
capable  of  grasping  divine  things.  If  their 
natures  were  so  elevated  as  to  lay  hold  of  the 
gospel,  they  would  no  longer  be  brutes.  With 
men  it  is  far  different.  Their  original  capa-. 
city  is  such  as  to  make  it  proper  to  address 


THE  GOSPEL  HIDDEN.  443 

to  them  the  gospel  with  all  its  doctrines,  pre- 
cepts, promises,  requirements,  and  obligations. 
No  man,  therefore,  can  now  truly  plead  incom- 
petence of  nature  as  a  justification  for  a  course 
of  neglect  or  contempt  towards  the  evangelical 

-age.     In  this  sense  therefore  the  gospel 
is  not  hid  from  any  of  us. 

2.  Neither  is  the  gospel  hid  from  us  in  the 
sense  in  which  truth  is  hid  from  unbalanced, 
disordered,  deranged  minds.  From  the  force 
of  his  disease,  the  poor  maniac  connects  ideas 
and  facts  most  remote  from  each  other,  and 
groups  together  the  most  discordant  assem- 
blages of  truth  and  fiction.  He  lays  down 
false  premises,  and  makes  lawful  deductions  ; 
or  he  lays  down  true  premises,  but  infers  some- 
thing foreign  and  unnatural.  Incoherence  of 
thought  is  his  disease,  or  flows  directly  from 
it.  But  these  things  cannot  be  said  of  men  in 
general.  In  the  human  mind  as  it  came  from 
the  hands  of  God,  there  is  nothing  that  would 
lead  it  thus  to  wander.  Men  have  Be 
enough  on  all  points  on  which  an  evil  heart 
no  perverting  tendency.  There  is  not 
found  in  the  human  soul  any  disease  unfitting 
it  for  receiving  plain  gospel  truth,  whem 
it  is  rightly  disposed. 


444     THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

3.  Neither  is  the  gospel  hid  from  us  in  the 
sense  in  which  the  abstruse  and  difficult  sci- 
ences are  hid  from  the  majority  of  men.  It 
cannot  be  expected,  it  is  not  required,  that 
men  generally  should  become  skilled  in  all 
the  depths  of  mathematical  or  physiological 
inquiry.  These  things  must  remain  very 
much  confined  to  a  few  and  hid  from  the 
many.  And  the  many  may  be  wholly  excu- 
sable. But  the  gospel  is  a  clear  statement  of 
plain  facts  and  doctrines  of  such  a  nature  as 
to  require  no  profound  argumentations,  no  bril- 
liancy of  wit,  no  scholastic  acumen  to  know  and 
apprehend  its  great  essential  truths.  Thou- 
sands of  unlettered  men  have  understood  its 
sublime  mysteries  of  justification  and  sanctifi- 
cation  by  the  blood  and  righteousness  and 
Spirit  of  Jesus.  The  gospel  is  so  plain  that 
any  right-minded  person  of  common  sense 
and  an  honest  heart  may  understand  enough 
of  it  to  be  saved  by  it.  To  such  the  Holy 
Ghost  is  given  to  enlighten  the  mind,  take  the 
veil  from  off  the  heart,  and  lift  the  soul  up  to 
God.  Our  gospel,  therefore,  is  not  hid  from 
men  in  the  sense  in  which  the  difficult  sciences 
are  hid  from  the  multitude. 

4.  Nor  is  it  hid  from  us  by  any  act  of  pro- 


THE  GOSPEL  HIDDEN.  445 

hibition  from  God  forbidding  us  to  inquire 
into  its  truths.  There  is  no  flaming  sword 
turning  every  way,  and  warning  us  not  to 
enter  any  book  of  Scripture.  On  the  con- 
trary, the  Author  of  our  religion  says,  "Search 
the  Scriptures ;  for  in  them  ye  think  ye  have 
eternal  life,  and  they  are  they  which  testify  of 
me/'  The  great  apostle  to  the  Gentiles  teaches 
the  same  when  he  says,  "Prove  all  things; 
hold  fast  that  which  is  good.'7  It  is  a  grand 
error  of  the  Eomish  church  to  keep,  contrary 
to  God's  will,  the  Holy  Scriptures  from  the 
common  people,  thus  taking  away  the  key 
of  knowledge.  God  has  purposes  and  plans 
which  lie  has  concealed  from  us,  some  of  them 
in  part,  and  some  of  them  wholly;  but  the 
very  object  of  a  revelation  was  that  we  might 
know  his  will.  "Secret  things  belong  onto 
the* Lord  our  God:  but  those  things  which  are 
revealed  belong  unto  us  and  to  our  children 
for  ever,  that  we  may  do  all  the  words  of  this 
law.''  They  are  God's  gifl  to  us.  Therefore 
they  are  not  hid  from  us  by  any  divine  pro- 
hibition. 

5.  Nor  is  the  gospel  hid  from  was 

from  men  who  lived  before   the  coining  of 

Christ.      Now   the    types    and    shadows    have 


446      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

given  way  to  the  bright  beams  of  light  and 
truth  issuing  from  the  Sun  of  righteousness. 
So  Paul  says  :  "The  word  of  God,  even  the 
mystery,  which  hath  been  hid  from  ages  and 
from  generations,  but  now  is  made  manifest  to 
the  saints  :  to  whom  God  would  make  known 
what  is  the  riches  of  the  glory  of  this  mystery 
among  the  Gentiles  ;  which  is  Christ  in  you, 
the  hope  of  glory."  Col.  1 :  25-27.  The  reve- 
lation is  therefore  made.  We  see  the  things 
which  kings  and  prophets  and  righteous  men 
desired  to  see  but  could  not.  We  have  them 
in  our  own  language,  in  plain  statements,  easily 
read.  We  have  the  Bible,  the  clearest  book 
ever  written  respecting  so  weighty  matters. 
"He  may  run  that  readeth  it."  JSTo  honest 
inquirer  after  truth  ever  mistook  its  teachings 
on  vital  points.  If  we  cannot  read  this  book, 
we  can  hear  its  truths  preached.  It  is  in  ref- 
erence to  this  preaching  especially  that  the 
apostle  is  speaking  in  2  Corinthians  4 : 1-5. 
He  says  that  he  and  his  fellow-laborers  had 
not  handled  the  word  of  God  deceitfully ; 
but  by  manifestation  of  the  truth  commended 
themselves  to  every  man's  conscience  in  the 
sight  of  God;  and  immediately  adds,  "If  our 
gospel  be  hid,  it  is  hid  to  them  that  are  lost." 


THE  GOSPEL  HIDDEN.  U7 

The  fault  was  not  in  the  preachers,  for  they 
told  the  truth,  using  great  plainness  of  speech. 
In  like  manner,  all  of  us  do  or  may  hear  the 
gospel  published  in  a  way  clear  and  decided. 
Who  among  us  has  not  heard  many  sermons 
which  faithfully  presented  the  gospel?  Christ 
id  preached^  and  we  all  hear  or  can  hear.  The 
object  of  all  good  preaching  is  not  to  hide  the 
gospel,  but  to  make  it  known. 

G.  Nor  is  the  gospel  hid  from  us  as  it  is 
from  the  heathen,  who  never  heard  its  blessed 
truths.  How  shall  men  "call  on  him  in  whom 
they  have  not  believed?  and  how  shall  they 
believe  in  him  of  whom  they  have  not  heard  ? 
and  how  shall  they  hear  without  a  preacher?. . . 
Faith  cometh  by  hearing,  and  hearing  by  the 
word  of  God."  There  are  millions  on  earth 
who  never  heard  that  Jesus  Christ  is  the  Lamb 
of  God,  that  taketh  away  the  sin  of  the  world. 
The  guilt  of  their  transgression  is  not  en- 
hanced by  a  knowledge  of  the  glorious  gofipel, 
light  has  never  shined  on  them.  If  men 
without  law,  they  shall  perish  without  law. 
I>u!   fearful  beyond   expression  will  he   the 

doom  of  those  who.  knowing  the  way  of  life, 
turn  from  the  holy  commandm  I  To  him 
that  knowetfa  to  do  good  and  doeth  it  not,  to 


US      THE  BOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

him  it  is  sin.     In  none  of  these  senses  is  the 
gospel  hid  from  us. 

II.  We  may  now  show  in  what  sense  the 

GOSPEL  IS  HID  FROM  THE  UNBELIEVING. 

This  is  truly  an  awful  subject.  It  is  so  in 
its  very  nature  ;  and  it  concerns  many.  The 
essence  of  this  hiding  consists  in  one's  having 
eyes  and  not  seeing,  in  having  ears  and  not 
hearing,  and  in  having  a  heart  and  not  under- 
standing. In  some  way,  the  truth  reaches 
the  intellect,  and  perhaps  slightly  moves  the 
affections,  but  there  it  stops.  It  changes  not 
the  heart  or  the  life.  Thus  one  may  be  a 
learned  critic,  a  clear  expositor,  or  an  apt 
teacher  of  many  truths  of  the  gospel,  and  yet 
never  see  its  true  force,  nor  apprehend  its 
chief  design.  Pride  and  perverseness  may 
hold  him  in  such  a  state  that  he  may  not  dis- 
cern the  real  nature  of  the  most  glorious  things. 
Sin  hides  the  most  precious  truths  from  the 
mind,  as  clouds  hide  the  rays  of  the  sun  from 
the  earth.  A  benighted  soul  is  a  lost  soul. 
A  state  of  darkness  is  a  state  of  guilt,  deprav- 
ity, and  death.  All  sin  produces  blindness 
of  mind.  For  their  wicked  rejection  of  known 
truth  and  duty,  God,  as  a  sovereign,  hides  the 
gospel  from  men.     In  sending  so  terrible  spir- 


THE  GOSPEL  HIDEEN.  449 

itual  judgments,  God  is  not  to  blame.  He  is 
not  bound  to  continue  favors  which  are  slighted 
and  contemned.  The  pious  and  amiable  John 
Newton  says:  "Let  us  suppose  a  person  to 
have  a  curious  cabinet,  which  is  opened  at  his 
pleasure,  and  not  exposed  to  common  view. 
He  invites  all  to  come  and  see  it,  and  offers 
to  show  it  to  any  one  who  asks  him.  It  is  hid, 
because  he  keeps  the  key ;  but  none  can  com- 
plain, because  he  is  ready  to  open  it  whenever 
he  is  desired.  Some  persons  disdain  the  offer, 
and  say,  Why  is  it  locked  at  all  ?  Some  think 
it  not  worth  seeing,  or  amuse  themselves  with 
guessing  at  the  contents.  But  those  who  are 
simply  desirous  for  themselves  leave  others 
disputing,  go  according  to  appointment,  and 
arc  gratified.  These  have  reason  to  be  thank- 
ful for  the  favor;  and  the  others  hare  no  just 
cause  to  iiml  fault  Thus  the  riches  of  divine 
grace  may  be  compared  to  a  richly-farnished 
cabinet,  to  Which  Christ  is  the  door.  The 
word  of  God  likewise  is  a  cabinet,  generally 
lucked  u}) ;  but  the  key  of  prayer  will  open  it. 

The  Lord  invites  all.  but  he  keeps  the  dispen- 

D  hands.  They  cannot  sec  these 

things   except    be   -hows   them;    but  then   lie 

refuses  none  that  sincerely  ask  Dim."    So  that 


450      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

God  is  clear  in  this  matter.  He  hides  not 
these  things  in  any  way  that  can  impeach  his 
justice  or  his  wisdom;  yet  he  hides  them 
effectually.  Left  to  themselves,  men  seek  to 
become  wise  and  become  fools.  This  is  a  pun- 
ishment for  their  pride  or  other  sins.  We 
read  of  some  on  whom  God  sent  strong  de- 
lusion, and  gave  them  up  to  believe  a  lie,  that 
they  might  be  damned,  because  they  had  pleas- 
ure in  unrighteousness.  They  delighted  not 
in  the  truth.  They  cared  neither  to  know  nor 
to  do  God's  will.  Surely  God  was  at  liberty 
to  hide  from  them  that  which  they  so  much 
disliked.  Their  ignorance  proves  the  truth 
of  the  words,  "  If  our  gospel  be  hid,  it  is  hid 
to  them  that  are  lost."  All  the  treasures  of 
wisdom  and  knowledge  are  hid  in  Christ.  He 
who  despises  the  Saviour  despises  all  the  les- 
sons we  can  learn  from  him.  The  truth  is 
also  hidden  in  the  letter  of  Scripture.  As  the 
time  of  the  day  is  hid  in  the  figures  of  the  sun- 
dial, but  cannot  be  read  unless  the  sun  shines 
and  reveals  the  truth,  so  is  saving  truth  hid 
in  the  letter. 

The  instrumentality  employed  in  hiding 
the  gospel  from  the  minds  of  men  is  various. 
Sometimes  the  work  is  done  by  Satan.     So 


THE  GOSPEL  HIDDEN.  451 

g  the  apostle:  "If  our  gospel  be  hid,  it  is  hid 
to  them  that  are  lost:  in  whom  the  god  of  this 
world  hath  blinded  the  minds  of  them  which 
believe  not,  lest  the  light  of  the  glorious  gos- 
pel of  Christ,  who  is  the  image  of  God,  should 
shine  unto  them."  The  great  adversary  dark- 
ens and  confuses  the  mind  of  unbelievers.  For 
this  they  are  to  blame,  because  they  are  in 
league  with  the  wicked  one.  Let  them  resist 
and  renounce  the  devil,  and  he  shall  have  no 
power  to  hide  the  gospel  from  them. 

Men  blind  one  another.  Many  seducers 
ami  deceivers  are  entered  into  the  world. 
They  operate  "  with  all  deceivablcness  of 
unrighteousness  in  them  that  perish,  because 
they  received  not  the  love  of  the  truth,  that 
they  might  be  saved."  Many  lie  in  wait  to 
dec<  j  idling  unstable  souls,  and  employ- 

ing canning  craftiness  and  sleight  of  men. 
Sneh  cannot  succeed  but  with  those  who  do 
not  wish  to  know  the  truths  of  the  gospel. 
The  deceiver  ami  the  deceived  are  both  guilty. 

Men  hide  the  gospel  from  themselves. 
They  love  darkness  rather  than  light.     They 

I  to  be  deceived.  They  shut  their  eyes 
lie-  truth,      [tfl  light  ifi  painful  to  them. 

darkness.     They  extinguish  the 


452      THE  EOCK  OF  OUE  SALVATION. 

lamp  of  truth.  They  corrupt  their  own  minds. 
They  obliterate  good  impressions.  They  resist 
the  Spirit.  They  seek  to  hide  the  gospel,  and 
it  is  hidden. 

Thus  is  God  righteous  in  all  cases,  even 
where  the  blindness  is  most  dreadful.  God 
is  not  responsible  for  this  darkness.  Man  is 
the  author  of  his  own  blindness.  Were  it  not 
for  the  sun,  we  should  have  perpetual  dark- 
ness ;  and  were  it  not  for  God,  we  should 
never  have  any  divine  light.  Were  the  sun 
never  to  shine  on  the  world,  and  were  God 
to  withhold  all  his  beams  from  us,  neither  the 
one  nor  the  other  would  be  chargeable  with 
the  darkness  that  should  follow. 

When  the  sun  shines  in  his  strength,  and 
all  nature  rejoices  in  his  light,  the  blind  can- 
not behold  his  beauty.  Were  there  ten  thou- 
sand suns,  the  blind  would  be  no  better  off. 
The  fault  is  in  their  vision.  So  if,  instead  of 
one,  there  were  ten  thousand  gospels,  each 
giving  the  brightest  light  to  lead  the  soul  to 
God,  the  unbelieving  would  continue  in  their 
present  unhappy  state.  The  very  light  that 
is  in  them  is  darkness,  and  they  love  to  have 
it  so.  When  Lord  Nelson  put  the  telescope 
to  his  blind  eye,  we  do  not  wonder  that  he 


THE  GOSPEL  HIDDEN.  453 

could  not  see  the  concerted  signals.     If  our 
gospel  be   hid,  it  is  hid  to   them  that  are 

This  subject  has  a  solemn  bearing  on  per- 
sons who  were  once  somewhat  enlightened, 
but  are  now  in  deeper  darkness  than  ever. 
So  was  it  with  Jerusalem,  over  which  Christ 
wept  and  said:  "  If  thou  hadst  known,  even 
thou,  at  least  in  this  thy  day.  the  things  which 
belong  unto  thy  peace !  but  now  they  are  hid 
from  thine  eyes."  Luke  19:42.  There  are 
set  times,  chosen  seasons,  precious  harv 
when,  if  people  are  rightly  disposed,  they 
may  know.  But  if  these  are  neglected,  awful 
darkness  ensues.  The  gospel,  once  made  to 
shine  into  the  mind,  but  then  rejected,  pay 
be  hid  from  the  eyes  for  ever.  Such 
undone.  Their  day  is  past.  Their  doom  is 
sealed. 

Some  complain  that  the  Bible  is  so  nr 
rious  that  it  is  like  a  sealed  book,  and  when 
they  read  it.  they  become  bewildered.     They 

nothing  in  it  plain  or  intelligible.  Ought 
not  such  honestly  to  inquire  into  their  spirit- 
ual condition  ?  Does  not  their  bewilderment 
prove  that  they  are  lost? 


454     THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

Others  apprehend  somewhat  of  the  truth, 
but  presently  "stumble  at  the  word,  being 
disobedient."  Their  stumbling  makes  them 
disobedient,  and  their  disobedience  makes 
them  stumble.  This  is  the  grand  error  of 
many.  They  refuse  submission  to  what  they 
do  know,  and  so  they  learn  nothing  aright. 
The  light  is  hid  from  such,  because  they  are 
lost. 

To  some  Christ  crucified  is  foolishness. 
The  idea  of  salvation  by  the  righteousness  of 
another  is  opposite  to  all  their  conceptions. 
They  deride  the  doctrine  of  life  to  sinners  by 
the  death  of  the  Saviour.  Speak  to  them  of 
their  own  merits  as  the  ground  of  their 
acceptance,  and  they  approve  such  boasting. 
A  gratuitous  salvation  they  scorn.  Their 
present  temper  continuing,  they  are  lost  for 
ever. 

Some  think  that  by  their  own  natural  wit 
they  can  arrive  at  saving  knowledge.  Such 
often  exclude  themselves  from  heaven  by  a 
jest  or  a  trifle.  Many  are  damned  for  a 
quibble.  They  judge  all  things  by  some  fan- 
tastic rule,  perhaps  in  their  view  quite  phil- 
osophical. When  will  men  learn  that  the 
world  by  wisdom  never  knew  God?     Per- 


THE  GOSPEL  HIDDEN.  455 

sisting  in  this  self-conceit,  such  are  hopelessly 
lost. 

God  always  hides  saving  knowledge  from 
the  "wise  and  prudent."  That  which  we 
learn  by  our  unaided  faculties  puffs  up  and 
blinds  the  mind.  "  Seest  thou  a  man  wise  in 
his  own  conceit  ?  there  is  more  hope  of  a  fool 
than  of  him.'7  The  lifting  up  of  the  soul  unto 
vanity  does  itself  exclude  the  light  of  truth. 
This  is  its  natural  tendency.  Such  a  state  of 
mind  spurns  the  aid  of  the  Spirit  of  God. 
And  flesh  and  blood  can  never  reveal  the 
great  truths  of  the  Bible.  It  is  only  by  an 
unctibn  from  the  Holy  One  that  any  man  is 
ever  able  to  see  divine  things  aright.  They 
are  spiritually  discerned.  He  that  is  not  led 
by  the  Spirit  of  God  must  err.  Often  do  we 
see  men  stumbling  at  straws,  making  difficul- 
ties where  a  child  sees  its  way  clear,  insist- 
ing upon  understanding  things  of  no  immedi- 
ate practical  utility,  and  yet  refusing  to  bow 
their  necks  to  the  plainest  and  most  practical 
precepts.     Such  are  lost. 

No  marvel  that  the  careless  never  come 
to  the  knowledge  of  the  truth.  If  men  would 
be  wise  unto  salvation,  they  must  cry  after 
knowledge,  and  lift  up  their  voice  for  under- 


456      THE  KOCK  OF  OUK  SALVATION. 

standing  ;  they  must  seek  her  as  silver,  and 
search  for  her  as  for  hid  treasure.  The  whole 
plan  of  God  requires  care,  candor,  attention, 
earnestness.  Some  are  so  heedless  that  they 
do  not  know  what  the  gospel  is.  They  dream 
or  guess  at  the  contents  of  the  Bible.  They 
are  deaf  to  the  proclamations  of  mercy.  0 
they  are  lost. 

Cavilling,  prejudice,  cherished  error,  a 
halting  mind,  an  unforgiving  temper,  any  sin 
wilfully  indulged  may  work  the  same  ruin  to 
the  soul. 

Thus  we  see  that  the  work  of  destroying 
the  soul  is  a  work  done  in  this  life.  One  says, 
"When  men  perish  under  the  gospel,  they  are 
benighted  at  noon.  They  have  created  to 
themselves  a  horrid  darkness  in  the  midst  of 
a  bright  and  clear  day.  They  are  lost  in  a 
day  of  salvation.  Lost,  not  only  under  the 
means  of  salvation,  but  by  them.  Gospel  light 
strikes  them  blind.  The  sweet,  vital  savors 
of  the  gospel  strike  them  dead.  Invited,  yet 
lost!  "Warned,  exhorted,  besought,  reproved, 
yet  lost.  Lost,  not  as  to  any  thing  which  is 
theirs,  but  as  to  themselves.  Not  a  part  lost, 
but  the  whole.  Lost  contrary  to  expectations. ;; 
The  darkness,  the  errors,  the  ignorance,  the 


THE  GOSPEL  HIDDEN.  457 

folly  of  unregenerate  men,  are  as  sure  and 
certain  tokens  of  what  is  to  be  their  state 
hereafter,  as  are  the  faith,  and  hope,  and  love 
of  Christians  respecting  their  eternal  well- 
being.  As  the  work  of  saving  the  soul  is  a 
work  of  time,  and  not  of  eternity ;  s"o  the  work 
of  destroying  the  soul  is  also  done  in  this 
world,  and  not  in  the  next.  And  the  evi- 
dences of  this  work  being  done  or  in  process 
are  often  clear  and  decisive.  If  men  would 
reason  as  fairly  about  their  standing  in  God's 
esteem  as  they  do  respecting  temporal  mat- 
ters, they  would  soon  be  convinced  of  their 
lost  estate.  The  smoke  of  the  bottomless  pit 
issuing  forth  in  ungodliness  surely  proves  that 
the  fir.es  of  perdition  are  burning  within.  One 
wanders  up  and  down  in  a  forest  and  finds  no 
safe  path.  He  knows  that  he  is  lost.  But 
when  one  errs  from  the  truth  and  follows  the 
mazes  of  iniquity,  he  often  infers  that  he  is  in 
a  safe  way. 

Remember  that  men  are  lost  in  this  world. 
On  a  lost  soul  in  the  day  of  judgment  will  be 
found  no  sign  of  perdition  that  is  not  found 
upon  it  on  earth.  Whatever  may  be  men's 
apprehensions,  but  few  of  the  unregenerate 
learn  the  truth  that  they  are  already  lost.    In 

Bock  of  8»lT«.  20  S^*\ 


458      THE  EOCK  OF  OUE  SALVATION. 

two  ways  men  are  convinced  of  their  misera- 
ble state.  One  is  in  time,  and  leads  to  salva- 
tion.    The  other  is  when  the  day  of  grace  is 

over. 

T was  very  sick.     Her  physician 

was  sent  for.  He  came  and  kindly  watched 
by  her  bed.  The  day  before  her  death  she 
seemed  calm  and  tranquil,  and  inquired  if  she 
should  probably  recover.  She  was  answered 
in  the  negative.  "How  long  can  I  live?"  said 
she.  The  answer  was,  "Possibly  until  to-, 
morrow  morning."  "Then,"  she  said,  "I  am 
lost,  lost,  lost!"  At  short  intervals  until  she 
breathed  her  last,  her  piteous  cry  pierced  the 
ears  of  attendants :  "Iain  lost,  I  am  lost,  lost, 
lost,  lost!"  0  why  will  unbelievers  keep  on 
in  sin,  and  go  to  eternity  for  ever  to  mourn 
heaven  lost,  a  crown  of  glory  lost,  an  eternity 
of  bliss  lost,  the  means  of  grace  lost,  the  day 
of  salvation  lost,  all  opportunity  to  make  peace 
with  God  lost,  and  lost  for  ever  ? 

Though  the  unregenerate  are  at  present 
lost,  yet  they  are  not  lost  beyond  recovery. 
By  God's  command  Christians  still  pray,  min- 
isters still  preach,  and  offers  of  mercy  are.  still 
given ;  and  by  God's  grace  sinners  are  still 
converted.    What  a  glorious  truth  that  Jesus 


THE  GOSPEL  HIDDEN.  459 

Christ  came  to  seek  and  to  save  that  which 
was  lost.  Almost  the  only  trne  thing  Christ's 
enemies  ever  said  against  him  was,  "This  man 
receiveth  sinners."  He  admitted  the  charge, 
and  spake  three  parables  in  vindication  of  his 
matchless  mercy. 


460      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 


CHAPTEK  XXV. 

THE  SIN  AND  DANGER  OF  NOT  BELIEVING 
IN  CHRIST.     . 

In  both  Testaments  God  expresses  his 
displeasure  against  unbelief.  By  Moses  he 
says  to  Israel:  "  Ye  did  not  believe  the  Lord 
your  God;"  "Ye  rebelled  against  the  com- 
mandment of  the  Lord  your  God,  and  ye 
believed  him  not,  nor  hearkened  to  his  voice." 
Deut.  1 :  32 ;  9  :  23.  Again,  God  complains  of 
Israel:  "They  would  not  hear,  but  hardened 
their  necks,  like  to  the  neck  of  their  fathers, 
that  did  not  believe  in  the  Lord  their  God." 
2  Kings  17  :  14.  By  the  psalmist  he  says, 
"They  believed  .not  in  God,  and  trusted  not 
in  his  salvation."  Ps.  78  :  22.  By  another 
prophet  he  thus  threatens  them:  "If  ye  will 
not  believe,  surely  ye  shall  not  be  estab- 
lished." Isa.  7:9.  The  New  Testament  is  no 
less  clear.  The  great  sin  of  the  Jews  under 
the  ministry  of  John  the  Baptist  was  their 
unbelief.  Matt.  21:32.  The  Son  of  God 
marvelled  at  the  unbelief  of  his  own  disci- 
ples, and  sharply  rebuked  it,  Mark  6:6;  Luke 


THE  SIN  OF  UNBELIEF.  461 

24 :  25.  Our  Lord  himself  expressly  says :  "  He 
that  believeth  not  is  condemned  already  ;" 
"  He  that  believeth  not  the  Son  shall  not  see 
life,  but  the  wrath  of  God  abideth  on  him." 
John  3  :  18,  36.  Paul  says,  by  unbelief  the  nat- 
ural branches  were  broken  off.  Eom.  11 :  20. 
Unbelief  hinders  prayer:  "How  then  shall 
they  call  on  him  in  whom  they  have  not  be- 
lieved?" Eom.  10:14.  "  The  god  of  this  world 
hath  blinded  the  minds  of  them  which  believe 
not.7'  2 Cor. 4 : 4.  "God  shall  send  them  strong 
delusion,  that  they  should  believe  a  lie  ;  that 
they  all  might  be  damned  who  believed  not  the 
truth,  but  had  pleasure  in  unrighteousness.7' 
.2  Thess.  2  :  11,  12.  "But  the  fearful,  and 
unbelieving,  and  the  abominable,  and  mur- 
derers, and  whoremongers,  and  sorcerers,  and 
idolaters,  and  all  liars,  shall  have  their  part 
in  the  lake  which  burnetii  with  fire  and  brim- 
stone :  which  is  the  second  death.'7  Kev. 
21 :  8.  Unbelief  may  relate  to  any  doctrine, 
or  promise,  or  threatening  of  God.  It  com- 
monly has  special  reference  to  the  person, 
work,  offices,  and  sufferings  of  the  Saviour. 
Then  it  is  a  rejection  of  him  as  he  is  offered 
in  the  gospel.  He  demands  our  affectionate 
confidence,  and  we  withhold  it. 


462      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

Unbelievers  are  of  two  classes,  specula- 
tive and  practical.  All  speculative  unbe- 
lievers are  also  practical  unbelievers  ;  but 
some  practical  unbelievers  have  no  intellec- 
tual doubts  of  the  truths  of  the  Bible.  Spec- 
ulative unbelievers  are  of  two  sorts.  Some 
rage  and  rail  and  blaspheme.  Others  doubt, 
hesitate,  are  skeptical.  This  latter  class  alter- 
nately hope  that  the  Bible  is  not  true,  and 
fear  that  it  is  true.  Meantime  they  live  as  if 
it  were  not  true,  and  so  #re  practical  unbe- 
lievers. If  they  do  not  deny,  they  suspect. 
This  is  truly  unbelief.  Not  to  credit  is  to 
disbelieve.  Not  to  receive  is  to  reject.  A 
refusal  to  obey  the  gospel  is  as  truly  danger- 
ous as  a  scornful  denial  of  its  claims. 

The  object  of  this  chapter  is  to  show  the 
sin  of  unbelief.  It  is  a  great  offence  against 
God  in  many  ways.  It  is  very  wicked  and 
deserves  God's  hot  displeasure. 

1.  Unbelief  is  a  very  heinous  sin,  because 
it  is  an  impeachment  of  the  divine  veracity. 
God's  word  is  his  testimony.  It  is  the  highest 
testimony  ever  given.  "When  a  judge  gives  a 
decision  or  a  jury  gives  a  verdict  contrary  to 
good  evidence,  all  right  thinkers  have  but  one 
opinion.    We  take  the  testimony  of  men.    We 


THE  SIN  OF  UNBELIEF.  463 

act  wisely  in  so  doing.  But  "if  we  receive 
the  witness  of  men,  the  witness  of  God  is 
greater."  1  John  5  :  9.  Man  is  fallible,  man 
is  corrupt,  man  often  deceives,  man  is  often 
deceived.  Yet  in  some  cases  man  is  and  must 
be  believed.  Under  certain  circumstances 
every  one  gives  credit  to  the  word  of  man. 
Much  more  then  should  we  believe  God,  who 
is  infallible,  and  who  cannot  lie.  From  the 
days  of  Moses  until  now  the  best  governments 
on  earth  have  hekl  that  two  or  three  wit- 
nesses were  sufficient  to  prove  any  fact.  If 
so,  shall  we  not  believe  the  Trinity  of  persons 
in  the  Godhead  ?  Jesus  adopts  this  kind  of 
argument  when  he  says :  "I  am  not  alone  ; 
but  I  and  the  Father  that  sent  me.  It  is  also 
written  in  your  law  that  the  testimony  of  two 
men  is  true.  I  am  one  that  bear  witness  of 
myself,  and  the  Father  that  sent  me  beareth 
witness  of  mc.?'     John  8  :  16-18. 

The  testimony  of  Christ  confirming  all  the 
doctrines  taught  by  the  prophets  and  by  him- 
self was  open,  clear,  decisive.  The  very 
highest  proofs  of  his  knowledge,  veracity,  and 
sincerity,  were  amply  given.  The  testimony 
of  his  Father  was  given  in  an  audible  voice 
from  heaven*    It  was  repeated  in  the  many 


464     THE  ROOK  OF  OUE  SALVATION. 

stupendous  miracles  wrought  by  Almighty 
power.  In  these  the  third  person  of  the 
adorable  Trinity  also  bore  testimony  in  a 
manner  both  striking  and  convincing.  In 
Hebrews  2  :  3,  4,  Paul  argues  thus:  "How 
shall  we  escape,  if  we  neglect  so  great  sal- 
vation, which  at  the  first  began  to  be  spo- 
ken by  the  Lord,  [that  is,  Christ,]  and  was 
confirmed  unto  us  by  them  that  heard  him; 
God  also  [that  is,  the  Father]  bearing  them 
witness  both  with  signs. and  wonders,  and 
with  divers  miracles  and  gifts  of  the  Holy 
Ghost."  So  that  the  three  that  bear  record 
in  heaven  have  given  testimony  upon  earth. 
Their  witness  is  harmonious,  unequivocal, 
often  repeated,  and  accompanied  by  infallible 
signs.  He,  therefore,  who  lives  in  unbelief, 
discredits  and  impeaches  the  testimony  of  the 
Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost.  That  this  is  a 
heinous  sin  cannot  be  doubted. 

Well  do  the  Scriptures  say,  he  that  be- 
lieveth  "hath  set  to  his  seal  that  God  is 
true."  They  as  distinctly  say,  "He  that  be- 
lieveth  not  God  hath  made  him  a  liar,  because 
he  believeth  not  the  record  that  God  gave  of 
his  Son."  1  John  5:10.  This  language  is 
indeed  awful,  but  it  is  just.     God's  honor  in 


THE  SIN  OF  UNBELIEF.  465 

regard  to  his  veracity  is  dear  to  him.  He 
never  will  part  with  it.  He  says  :  "My  glory 
will  I  not  give  to  another."  The  heavens 
and  the  earth  shall  pass  away,  but  his  word 
shall  not  pass  away.  Every  jot  and  tittle 
shall  be  fulfilled.  Because  God  is  perfect,  he 
is  jealous  of  the  honor  of  his  name.  An  evil 
being  may  be  reckless  of  his  repute  for  vera- 
city, but  a  good  being,  never.  To  man  you 
can  offer  no  greater  indignity  than  to  say  he 
lies.  How  dreadful  then  the  sin  of  making 
God  a  liar. 

Besides,  God  has  made  his  word  the  chief 
means  by  which  to  test  the  confidence  of  his 
creatures  in  his  truth:  "Thou  hast  exalted 
thy  word  above  all  thy  name  ;"  that  is,  above 
all  by  which  thou  hast  made  thyself  known. 
Ami  the  chief  burden  of  God's  word  is,  redemp- 
tion by  his  Son,  together  with  histories,  laws, 
doctrines,  promises,  and  threatenings.  His 
word  is  truth  selected  from  the  boundless  field 
of  omniscience.  It  is  more  precious  than  gold, 
than  much  fine  gold.  His  words  are  fitly 
spoken.     They  arc  like  apples  of  gold  in   a 

work  of  silver.  They  are  more  precious 
than  rabies.  To  disbelieve  them  is  to  trample 
pearls  under  our  feet.     It  is  to  take  the  cove- 

20* 


"466      THE  BOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

nant  of  God  and  treat  it  with  contempt.  Un- 
belief, therefore,  is  of  the  nature  of  sacrilege. 
It  puts  the  holiest  things  to  base  uses.  More- 
over, God  has  not  only  pledged  his  word,  but 
he  has  added  to  it  the  awful  solemnity  of  an 
oath.  He  who  disbelieves  his  word  charges 
him  with  falsehood.  He  who  discredits  his 
oath  charges  him  with  perjury.  A  witness 
may  give  his  testimony  upon  oath,  and  we 
may  decide  in  the  teeth  of  all  he  swears, 
but  in  so  doing  we  declare  our  utter  want  of 
confidence  in  his  statements.  If  God  is  dis- 
pleased at  any  thing,  it  must  be  at  this  atro- 
cious insult. 

Nor  is  this  all.  To  disbelieve  God  is  to 
believe  his  enemies,  and  especially  his  great 
adversary,  the  father  of  lies.  Eve  believed 
the  devil  rather  than  her  Maker.  When  Ahab 
rejected  the  testimony  of  the  man  of  God,  he 
was  ready  to  believe  the  lying  prophets  of 
Baal.  Chateaubriand  says  :  "  Men  are  ready 
to  believe  any  thing  when  they  believe  noth- 
ing. They  have  diviners  when  they  cease  to 
have  prophets ;  witchcraft  when  they  cease  to 
have  religious  ceremonies ;  they  open  the  caves 
of  sorcery  when  they  shut  the  temples  of  the 
Lord."     He  who  does  not  believe  God  surely 


THE  SIN  OF  UNBELIEF.  467 

believes  the  great  deceiver.  Such  impiety  is 
shocking  to  all  right-minded  persons.  Its 
wickedness  is  manifest  to  all  whose  con- 
sciences are  not  seared  as  with  a  hot  iron. 

2.  He  who  by  unbelief  rejects  the  word  of 
God  and  his  well-beloved  Son,  impugns  the 
Divine  wisdom.  If  we  say  that  we  do  not 
need  the  salvation  of  the  gospel,  we  charge 
God  with  making  a  needless  sacrifice,  and 
needless  provision  for  our  souls.  When  one 
saj^s  he  is  well,  he  declares  that  he  needs  no 
remedy.  When  one  says  he  is  good  enough, 
and  justifies  himself,  he  cannot  but  look  upon 
redemption  by  atoning  blood  as  either  a  fable 
or  a  folly — a  vast  expenditure  to  no  wise  pur- 
pose. God's  wisdom  determined  that  Christ's 
work  and  death  were  necessary  for  our  salva- 
tion. Unbelief  says,  "We  can  do  without  a 
Saviour."  Or  if  the  sense  of  guilt  is  strong, 
then  our  unbelief,  tending  to  despair,  im- 
God's  wisdom  by  sajdng  that  the 
death  <»f  Christ  is  insufficient,  and  his  blood 
inefl$cacious  to  wash  away  our  sins.  We  say 
the  remedy  h  not  adequate.  We  say  that  sin 
stains  too  deeply  and  guilt  presses  too  heavily 
for  us  to  hope  in  the  atonement  of  God's  dear 
Son.     In  this  view  the  scheme  of  redemption 


4G8     THE  BOOK  OF  OUK  SALVATION. 

is  a  failure.  It  lacks  virtue.  It  meets  not 
men's  wants.  Could  a  more  heinous  impeach- 
ment of  God's  wisdom  be  made  ?  Shall  man 
be  wiser  than  God,  who  charges  his  angels 
with  folly?  Is  it  surprising  that  the  Judge 
of  all  the  earth  should  be  offended,  yea, 
incensed,  when  men  reject  his  Son  and  his 
gospel,  which  is  both  the  wisdom  of  God  and 
the  power  of  God  unto  our  salvation? 

3.  Unbelief  is  a  rejection  of  kindness,  a 
slighting  of  unspeakable  mercy  offered  to  us 
by  the  Lord.  The  refusal  of  Jesus  Christ  has 
no  parallel  for  ingratitude,  stubbornness,  and 
daring  impiety.  Sovereign  Love  holds  to  our 
lips  the  cup  of  salvation.  Unbelief  puts  it 
away,  and  says/ "Let  thy  gifts  be  to  thyself, 
and  thy  rewards  to  another  ;  I  need  them  not  ; 
I  trust  them  not ;  I  accept  them  not."  In  un- 
belief, the  debtor  in  prison  refuses  to  let  Jesus 
be  his  Surety.  By  unbelief,  the  poor  naked 
soul  refuses  the  spotless  righteousness  of 
Christ,  and  cleaves  to  the  filthy  rags  of  its 
own  righteousness.  Unbelief  refuses  to  per- 
mit the  great  Deliverer  to  come  in  and  knock 
off  the  chains  of  fiery  condemnation.  It  spurns 
the  balm  of  Gilead,  although  the  soul  is  all 
diseased.     God  expostulates  with  the  wicked, 


THE  SIN  OF  UNBELIEF.  469 

and  says,  "How  shall  I  give  thee  up?  As  I 
live,  I  have  no  pleasure  in  the  death  of  the 
sinner.  My  repentings  are  kindled  together." 
The  Father  of  mercy  calls  them.  The  Son  of 
his  love  cries,  "Come  unto  me,  all  ye  that  labor 
and  are  heavy  laden."  The  Holy  Spirit  woos. 
The  church  of  God  says,  "Come."  Surely  it 
cannot  be  safe,  it  must  be  perilous,  lightly  to 
esteem  such  love  and  pity,  mercy  bought 
with  blood — the  blood  of  propitiation  ;  mercy 
offered  to  us  by  the  Lord  himself;  mercy  so 
much  needed  by  us  all ;  mercy  rejected  by 
none  but  the  perverse.  God's  love  to  us  is 
amazing  ;  Christ's  love  to  us  far  exceeds  any 
love  the  best  man  bears  to  him  ;  the  love  of 
the  Holy  Spirit  is  unsurpassed.  How,  0  how 
can  we  slight  such  kindness  ? 

4.  Unbelief  is  a  denial  and  refusal  of  the 
grace  of  God  in  the  gospel  of  his  Son.  And 
we  need  all  the  grace  proffered  to  us.  We 
are  sinful,  guilty,  justly  condemned,  blind, 
ignorant,  wretched,  impotent.  We  are  with- 
out strength,  without  holiness,  without  right- 
eoilSDeftS,  without  saving  knowledge,  without 
healing  medicines,  without  hope,  without  God 
in*  the  world.  This  is  and  must  continue  to 
be  our  state  till  we  arc  made   partakers  of 


470      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

that  grace  which  is  rich,  free,  unmerited, 
abundant,  treasured  up  in  Christ,  and  pro- 
claimed in  the  glorious  gospel.  But  unbelief 
says,  Christ  has  died  in  vain,  his  intercession 
is  nugatory,  his  gospel  is  a  fable.  In  robbing 
our  own  souls  of  this  mercy,  we  rob  God  of 
the  glory  of  his  grace.  "In  a  word,  if  a  man 
should  choose  to  set  himself  in  a  universal 
opposition  unto  God,  he  can  think  of  no  more 
compendious  way  than  this 77  of  unbelief. 

5.  Unbelief  is  a  slighting  of  God's  power 
both  to  save  and  to  destroy,  and  of  his 
authority  as  a  Lawgiver  and  Governor.  He 
has  brought  all  his  sovereignty  to  bear  on  the 
duty  of  faith  in  Christ:  "This  is  his  command- 
ment, that  we  should  believe  on  the  name  of 
his  Son.77  To  disregard  this  command  is  to 
contemn  all  his  power  over  us,  for  he  requires 
faith  in  his  Son  under  the  sanction  of  the 
most  awful  threatenings,  many  of  which  have 
been  already  recited. 

6.  The  sin  of  unbelief  is  in  most  cases  ter- 
ribly aggravated.  It  is  commonly  a  sin  that 
has  been  long  persisted  in.  If  men  are  now 
unbelievers,  they  have  been  committing  that 
sin  all  their  days.  Their  lives  have  been 
lives  of  unbelief.     For  one   act  of  unbelief 


THE  SIN  OF  UNBELIEF.  471 

Moses  was  denied  admission  into  Canaan. 
For  one  act  of  unbelief  Zacharias  was  struck 
dumb.  But  our  acts  of  unbelief  have  been 
as  numerous  as  the  calls  of  mercy  which  we 
have  resisted.  And  our  unbelief  has  been 
indulged  against  much  instruction  and  knowl- 
edge. Often  has  the  light  shone  as  clear  as 
day.  Often  have  we  heard  appeals  as  solemn 
as  death,  and  as  tender  as  the  compassions  of 
a  dying  Saviour.  If  we  are  now  in  unbelief, 
we  know,  we  have  long  known  it  was  a  sin. 
For  unbelief  indulged  under  a  much  darker 
dispensation,  the  carcases  of  six  hundred  thou- 
sand men  fell  in  the  wilderness.  Again,  we 
have  seen  great  sinners  turn  from  sin  to  the 
Saviour,  and  find  mercy.  In  their  renovated 
lives  we  had  the  proof  of  the  power  of  Christ 
to  save.  We  must  be  guilty  for  disregarding 
the  lessons  of  such  examples.  Hear  the  Son 
of  God  himself  on  this  matter:  "The  publi- 
cans and  the  harlots  believed  John ;  and  ye, 
when  ye  had  seefl  it,  repented  not  afterwards 
that  ye  might  believe."  Matt.  21 :  32.  Yea 
more,  the  salvation  of  the  gospel  is  God's  last 
offer  to  man.  Christ's  atonement  rejected  by 
unbelief)  there  remains  no  more  sacrifice  for 
sins.     God  will  never  send  another  Saviour 


472     THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

into  the  world.  Christ  himself  said:  "  If  ye 
believe  not  that  I  am  he,  ye  shall  die  in  your 
sins."  Indeed,  unbelief  is  by  preeminence  the 
damning  sin  of  all  who  hear  the  gospel  and 
perish.  It  is  of  the  nature  of  all  sin  to  work 
death ;  but  unbelief  is  a  sin  without  which  no 
other  sin  that  we  in  a  gospel  land  commit 
renders  damnation  inevitable.  It  is  the  act 
of  a  poor  condemned  criminal  on  his  way  to 
execution  refusing  a  pardon.  It  is  the  act  of 
Esau  taking  the  pottage,  eating  it,  and  giving 
up  the  birthright  for  ever.  And  unbelief  is  a 
sin  always  wilfully  committed.  So  charges 
Christ  himself:  "Ye  will  not  come  to  me, 
that  ye  might  have  life.'7  So  charge  the 
apostles:  "  Ye  judge  yourselves  unworthy  of 
everlasting  life."  Unbelief  persisted  in  seals 
our  perdition.  It  closes  every  door  of  hope, 
and  leaves  us  enshrouded  in  the  darkness  of 
despair  for  ever  and  ever.  It  does  all  this 
by  grieving  the  Holy  Ghost,  by  vexing  him 
to  depart  from  us. 

7.  Indeed,  how  can  unbelief  be  other  than 
an  enormous  sin,  when  it  has  its  seat  in  pride, 
self-will,  self- righteousness,  love  of  riches, 
love  of  human  honors,  and  hardness  of  heart? 
"The  wicked,  through  the  pride  of  his  counte- 


THE  SIN  OF  UNBELIEF.  473 

nance,  will  not  seek  after  God ;"  "How  can  ye 
believe,  which  receive  honor  one  of  another, 
and  seek  not  the  honor  that  cometh  from  God 
only?"  "Ye  cannot  serve  God  and  mam- 
mon ;"  "  If  any  man  love  the  world,  the  love 
of  the  Father  is  not  in  him  ;"  "  Ye  do  always 
resist  the  Holy  Ghost."  These  are  but  sam- 
ples of  the  manner  in  which  God  speaks  of 
the  causes  of  unbelief.  All  unbelief  has  its 
seat  in  dreadful  depravity. 

8.  We  may  judge  of  the  heinousness  of 
the  sin  of  unbelief  from  the  dreadful  sentence 
resting  on  all  in  whom  it  reigns.  The  Bible 
says  they  are  "condemned  already."  They  are 
condemned  by  the  first  covenant,  which  says  : 
"Cursed  is  every  one  that  continueth  not  in  all 
tilings  which  are  written  in  the  book  of  the  law 
to  do  tin  m ;"  "The  soul  that  sinneth,  it  shall 
die" — it  shall  die — it  shall  die — it  shall  die. 
And  O  what  a  death  !  But  to  this  condemna- 
tion is  added  that  of  the  gospel:  "He  that 
believeth  not  is  condemned  already;"  "This 
La  the  condemnation,  that  light  is  come  into 
the  world,  and  men  loved  darkness  rather 
than  light."  0  this  double  condemnation, 
how  terrible!  It  is  a  condemnation  from 
Lawgiver,  the  Judge  of  all.    His 


474      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALTATION. 

sentence  is  irreversible.  And  it  "already" 
rests  on  unbelievers.  The  day  of  judgment 
will  declare  and  enforce  it,  but  it  will  not 
alter  it.  He  who  lives  and  dies  condemned, 
will  awake  to  shame  and  everlasting  contempt 
on  the  morning  of  the  last  day,  and  will  stand 
self-condemned  as  well  as  God-condemned  at 
the  tribunal  of  Christ.  Beware,  0  unbeliever, 
beware.  '  Forsaking  truth  and  embracing 
error,  angels  shrunk  into  devils.  Forsaking 
error  and  grasping  truth,  sinners  rise  to  the 
dignity  of  saints,  and  to  the  companionship  of 
angels.' 

1.  What  a  dreadful  thing  is  sin!  It  is  so 
daringj  so  stubborn,  so  mischievous,  so  ruin- 
ous to  man,  so  dishonoring  to  God. 

2.  What  mercy  is  found  in  God  in  pro- 
viding a  Saviour,  in  offering  him  to  our  accept- 
ance, in  waiting  on  ungrateful  and  rebellious 
men  so  long,  and  in  actually  leading  many  to 
the  Saviour. 

3.  What  a  dreadful  doom  awaits  those  who 
will  not  be  reclaimed !  "  It  shall  be  more  tol- 
erable for  .  .  .  Sodom  and  Gomorrah  in  the  day 
of  judgment  than  for  "  such.  ' '  Unbelief  brings 
greater  guilt"  and  sorer  punishment  "than  the 


THE  SIN  OF  UNBELIEF.  475 

sins  of  the  worst  of  heathens,  who  never  heard 
of  these  glorious-things,  nor  have  had  this  Sav- 
iour offered  to  them."  . .  .  "The  moth  shall  eat 
them  up  like  a  garment,  and  the  worm  shall 
eat  them  like  wool,"  says  God;  "but  my 
righteousness  shall  be  for  ever,  and  my  sal- 
vation from  generation  to  generation."  Isa. 
51:8. 

4.  Let  us  carefully  guard  against  that  great 
parent  of  unbelief,  a  self-righteous  temper, 
which  says,  "I  am  holy,  I  am  clean,  I  am 
pure."  "If  righteousness  come  by  the  law, 
then  Christ  is  dead  in  vain."  Gal.  2:21.  To 
expect  heaven  on  the  ground  of  your  own 
merit  is,  says  Edwards,  to  "arrogate  to  your- 
self the  honor  of  the  greatest  thing  that  ever 
God  himself  did."  ...  "To  take  on  yourself 
to  work  out  redemption  is  a  greater  thing  than 
if  you  had  taken  it  upon  you  to  create  a  world." 
A  self-righteous  spirit  is  fatal  to  the  soul. 

5.  "Take  heed,  brethren,  lest  there  be  in 
any  of  you  an  evil  heart  of  unbelief,  in  depart- 
in-  from  the  living  God."  Heb.  3:12.  It 
dishonors  and  provokes  God.  It  grieves  the 
Saviour.  Mark  3:5.  It  grieves  the  Holy 
Spirit  Of  promise.  An  attack  of  fever  is  not 
so  bad  a.-  mil  of  unbelief. 


476      THE  BOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

6.  The  great  business  assigned  us  on  earth 
by  God  himself  is,  believing— believing  on  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ.  When  the  multitude  said 
to  Jesus,  "What  shall  we  do  that  we  might 
work  the  works  of  God  ?  Jesus  answered  and 
said  unto  them,  This  is  the  work  of  God,  that 
ye  believe  on  him  whom  he  hath  sent."  John 
6:28,  29.  So  when  the  jailor  cried,  "Sirs, 
what  must  I  do  to  be  saved  ¥'  Paul  and  Silas 
said,  "Believe  on  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and 
thou  shalt  be  saved,  and  thy  house."  Acts 
16 :30,  31.  This  is  the  tenor  of  all  the  Scrip- 
ture. It  is  only  by  faith  that  we  enter  into  rest. 
Be  sure  you  truly,  believe :  "Without  faith  it  is 
impossible  to  please  God."  "Till  you  have 
this  faith,  you  have  no  special  interest  in 
Christ.  It  is  only  believers  that  are  united 
to  him.  and  are  his  living  members.  And  it 
is  by  faith  that  he  dwells  in  our  hearts,  and 
that  we  live  in  him.  Eph.  3:17:  Gal.  2:20. 
In  vain  do  you  boast  of  Christ,  if  you  are  not 
true  believers.  You  have  no  part  or  portion 
in  him.  None*  of  his  special  benefits  are  yours 
till  you  have  this  living,  working  faith."*  The 
law  presses  until  we  believe.  Forgiveness 
and  acceptance  come  not  till  we  close  in  with 

*  Baxter. 


THE  SIN  OF  UNBELIEF.  477 

Christ:  "He  that  believeth  on  him  is  not 
condemned  ;  but  lie  that  believeth  not  is  con- 
demned already."  Why,  0  why  do  not  all 
perishing  sinners. flee  to  Christ?  Why  will 
men  involve  their  souls  in  deeper  sin  and 
more  alarming  danger  by  persisting  even  for 
an  hour  in  the  rejection  of  Christ  ? 


478     THE  KOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 


CHAPTER  XXYI. 

THE  REPROACH  OF   CHRIST. 

Eeproach  is  shame,  opprobrium,  infamy, 
disgrace,  exposing  men  to  scornful  derision. 

Nothing  has  rendered  men  so  liable  to 
taunt,  reviling,  and  malignity  as  love  to  Jesus 
Christ.  The  Lord  himself  told  his  people  that 
it  should  be  so :  "  Ye  shall  be  hated  of  all  men 
for  my  name's  sake  f  "If  the  world  hate  you, 
ye  know  that  it  hated  me  before  it  hated  you." 
The  reproach  of  the  cross  has  not  ceased. 
Matt.  10:22;  John  15:18;  Gal.  5:11.  Who- 
ever would  be  a  true  Christian  must  obey  the 
summons:  "Let  us  go  forth  therefore  unto 
him  without  the  camp,  bearing  his  reproach." 
Heb.  13 :13.  The  great  scandal  of  Christian- 
ity is  the  cross  and  the  Crucified.  It  has  long 
been  so.  The  very  expectation  of  a  Eedeemer, 
thousands  of  years  before  his  coming,  was  an 
offence  to  men,  and  exposed  them  to  virulent 
scorn. 

It  is  mentioned  by  the  apostle  to  the  Gen- 
tiles as  worthy  of  special  notice,  that  "by 


THE  ItEPKOACH  OF  CHKIST.  479 

faitli  Moses,  when  lie  was  come  to  years,  re- 
fused to  be  called  the  son  of  Pharaoh's  daugh- 
ter; choosing  rather  to  suffer  affliction  with 
the  people  of  God,  than  to  enjoy  the  pleas- 
ures of  sin  for  a  season  ;  esteeming  the  re- 
proach of  Christ  greater  riches  than  the 
treasures  in  Egypt;  for  he  had  respect  unto 
the  recompense  of  the  reward."  Heb.  11 :24- 
26.  This  is  an  illustrious  example  of  faith, 
and  full  of  instruction.  Let  us  look  at  it  in 
some  of  its  more  important  bearings. 

Ancient  Egypt  was  a  wonderful  country. 
The  Hebrews  called  it  Mizraim,  from  the  son 
of  Ham,  who  bore  that  name.  To  this  day. 
the  Arabs  call  it  Mizr.  •  By  the.  Greeks  and 
Latins  it  was  called  Egypt,  the  origin  of  which 
word  we  do  not  know.  To  its  great  river,  the 
Nile,  was  first  given  the  name  of  the  Father  of 
waters.  To  the  overflowings  of  this  river  the 
land  of  Egypt  owes  its  extraordinary  fertility. 
Egypt  is  about  four  hundred  and  fifty  miles 
in  length.     It  is  commonly  divided  into  Upper 

pt,  Lower  Egypt,  and  the  Delta.  An- 
nual v  it  was  subdivided  into  forty- two  prov- 
inces. In  Upper  Egypt  was  one  of  the  most 
remafktble  cities  known  to  antiquity;  ami 
the  whole  land  was  sufficiently  supplied  with 


480      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

cities  and  towns.  The  Egyptians  were  greatly 
averse  to  the  life  of  shepherds  or  herdsmen. 
They  gave  great  attention  to  the  culture  of 
grain.  Not  less  than  twenty  millions  of  bush- 
els of  corn  were  for  a  long  time  annually  sent 
from  Egypt  to  Eome.  The  land  generally  af- 
forded two  crops  every  year — one  before  and 
one  after  the  overflowing  of  the  Nile.  The 
Egyptians  were  a  people  remarkable  for  their 
skill  in  the  arts.  No  contemporary  nation 
equalled  them.  To  this  effect  ancient  history 
speaks  clearly.  The  productions  of  the  soil 
were  very  various.  Different  species  of  wood 
and  varieties  of  marble  in  Egypt  induced  men 
to  become  skilful  manufacturers.  The  monu- 
ments of  ancient  art  among  this  people  are 
amazing.  For  thousands  of  years  the  pyra- 
mids have  been  the  wonder  of  the  world. 
One  of  these  covers  an  area  of  thirteen  acres, 
and  is  still  four  hundred  and  seventy -four 
feet  above  ground.  In  Upper  Egypt,  the 
sphinxes,  obelisks  and  temples  still"  amaze 
the  beholder.  Wonderful  statuary  and  paint- 
ings are  still  found  in  that  region.  The  an- 
cient Egyptians  were  to  a  great  extent  the 
fathers  of  science  and  of  literature.  Philoso- 
phy,  astronomy  and  geometry   early  found 


THE  REPROACH  OF  CHRIST.  481 

t  among  them.     There  too  the  practice  of 
ang   permanent   and   intelligible   records 
ns   first   to   have    extensively   prevailed, 
their  acquirements,  the  priests  of  Egypt 
icelled  the  savans  of  all  nations  ;  yet  the 
iperstitions   of  the   country   were   strange, 
lighty,  and  numerous;  there  were  gods  by- 
he  thousand  ;  religious  worship  was  addressed 
to  men,  to  stars,  to  domestic  animals,  and  even 
to  plants;  thus  proving  that  mere  science  can 
ve  no  people  from  debasement,  and  that 
'•'those  who  .are  most  delicate  as  to  the  decen- 
cies of  life  arc  often  the  most  gross  as  to  the 
decencies  of  religion. " 

F<>r  a  long  time  this  country  was  governed 
by  a  raee  of  kings  known  to  us  as  the  Pha- 
raohft  Tin*  wonl  Pharaoh  signifies  sovereign 
power,  and  is  not  very  different  from  our 
word  emperor  or  autocrat.  Each  of  the 
Pharaohs  probably  had  a  proper  name  ;  but 
none  of  these  names  arc  preserved  to  us  in 
until  the  time  of  Rehoboain,  wheri 
Pharaoh  Shishak  lived.  We  do  not,  th 
fore,  know  which  of  the  Pharaohs  was  on  the 
tin-  birth  of  Moses. 

Bui  II  informed  that  In-  had  an 

only  child,  a  daughter,  whom  he  greatly  loved, 

BockofBalv*.  21 


482      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

and  who  was  herself  childless.  According  to 
the  Egyptian  laws,  she  was  at  liberty  to  adopt 
whom  she  would  as  her  son,  and  on  his  adop- 
tion he  became  the  heir  expectant  and  appa- 
rent of  the  throne  of  Egypt.  The  name  of 
Pharaoh's  daughter,  according  to  Josephus, 
was  Thermutis.  This  woman  was  led  to  adopt 
Moses  under  the  following  circumstances.  For 
some  time  a  cruel  decree  had  been  in  force 
that  all  the  male  children  of  the  Hebrews, 
who  had  now  for  a  long  time  been  in  abject 
slavery,  but  who  yet  rapidly  increased  -  in 
numbers,  should  be  put  to  death  as  soon  as 
they  were  born. 

In  Hebrews  11  :  23,  the  apostle  says : 
"By  faith  Moses,  when  he  was  born,  was  hid 
three  months  of  his  parents,  because  they  saw 
he  was  a  proper  child  ;  and  they  were  not 
afraid  of  the  king's  commandment."  What  it 
was  that  made  them  regard  him  with  unusual 
interest,  we  know  not ;  but  they  risked  their 
lives  to  save  his.  Having  kept  him  concealed 
for  three  months,  and  finding  further  secresy 
impracticable,  they  put  him  into  a  small  ves- 
sel, or  water-tight  basket,  and  exposed  him 
on  the  banks  of  the  Nile.  Thermutis,  the 
king's  daughter,  coming  thither  to  bathe,  and 


THE  REPROACH  OF  CHRIST.         483 

perceiving  the  basket,  ordered  it  to  be  brought. 
She  opened  it,  and  found  a  weeping  infant. 
There  was  watching,  at  a  little  distance,  a 
Hebrew  girl,  about  ten  years  old.  It  was 
Miriam,  the  only  sister  of  Moses.  She  came 
to  Thermutis,  and  asked  if  she  would  have  a 
Hebrew  nurse.  God  led  her  to  assent,  and 
soon  the  delighted  little  sister  brought  Joche- 
bed,  the  wife  of  Amram,  and  the  mother  of 
the  babe.  The  princess  gave  to  the  child  the 
nai ne  of  Moses,  which  is  a  compound  Egyptian 
word  signifying  drawn  out  of  the  water. 

Thermutis  had  her  adopted  child  taught  in 
all  such  matters  as  the  vast  science  and  lite- 
rature of  the  country  could  afford.     He  was 

■  instructed  in  more  important  matters. 
His  pious  parents  taught  him  the  religion  of 
Abraham,  Isaac,  and  Jacob,  and  early  imbued 
his  in i lid  with  excellent  precepts  of  wisdom, 
virtue,  and  godliness.  At  what  precise  age 
hifl  education  was  considered  complete,  is  not 

tain  ;  but  it  is  probable  that  it  was  not  till 
he   was    at   least   thirty   years   old,    perhaps 

rer  forty  than  thirty. 

The  Scriptures  do  not  inform  us  as  to  the 

mstances  attending  the  ftrsri  open  act 
whereby  Moses  disowned  any  connection  with 


484     THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

the  royal  family.  Whether  it  was  done  in 
words  and  actions,  or  by  actions  only,  is  not 
known  ;  nor  is  it  necessary  that  it  should  be. 
His  forsaking  of  the  court  was  a  matter  which 
could  not  be  misunderstood.  Soon  after,  he 
fled  the  country,  and  went  to  Midian,  and 
allied  himself  to  Jethro,  and  remained  for 
forty  years  longer,  until  he  was  called  of  Grod 
to  return  to  Egypt.  But  it  is  his  conduct  in 
retiring  from  court  that  is  specially  noticed 
by  the  apostle:  "By  faith  Moses,  when  he 
was  come  to  years,  refused  to  be  called  the 
son  of  Pharaoh's  daughter ;  choosing  rather  to 
suffer  affliction  with  the  people  of  God  than 
to  enjoy  the  pleasures  of  sin  for  a  season  ; 
esteeming  the  reproach  of  Christ  greater 
riches  than  the  treasures  in  Egypt ;  for  he  had 
respect  unto  the  recompense  of  the  reward." 

In  contemplating  the  reproach  of  Christ, 
and  the  manner  of  overcoming  it,  let  us  con- 
sider 

I.  The  .  Choice  which  Moses  made.  It 
consisted  of  two  parts  :  something  forsaken,  . 
and  something  embraced  ;  something  refused, 
and  something  received ;  something  relinquish- 
ed, and  something  laid  hold  of.  What  did  he 
give  up  ? 


THE  REPROACH  OF  CHRIST.         485 

1.  The  highest  honors  which  earth  had  to 
bestow.  Egypt  was  at  this  time,  in  an  impor- 
tant sense,  the  mistress  of  the  world.  She 
had  more  resources,  more  character,  more 
national  glory,  than  any  of  the  nations  of  anti- 
quity. Her  glory  had  been  filling  the  world 
with  wonder  for  ages,  and  at  no  time  more 
than  within  the  last  eighty  years.  No  crown 
on  earth  glittered  with  such  dazzling  bright- 
ness as  the  crown  of  Egypt.  More  foreigners 
came  to  that  land  to  seek  wisdom  and  to  won- 
der than  were  then  going  to  all  the  world 
besides.  Priests  of  other  lands  came  here  to 
study  theology.  The  magi  of  remote  nations 
visited  its  schools  to  study  astrology.     What- 

r  was  supposed  to  be  useful  or  ornamental 
In  life,  could  be  found  or  learned  in  Egypt. 
By  Leaving  the  court,  Moses  lost  all  opportu- 
nity of  conversing  With  Learned  men,  and  of 
being  an  object  of  admiration  as  the  great 
Light  of  science  and  literature  in  his  genera- 
tion :  for  although  he  was  not  an  eloquent 
man,  yet  the  Bible  tells  us  he  was  a  man 
'•  mighty  in  words."  The  meaning  is  that  he 
had  not  any  great  fluency,  nor  did  he  seek 
meretricious  ornament  in  speech  \  yet  his 
tarning  and  wisdom  were  remarkable. 


486      THE  BOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

That  Moses  could  write  with  sublimity  hardly- 
equalled  by  any  of  the  ancients,  has  been  con- 
fessed by  sober  critics  since  the  days  of  Lon- 
ginus.  That  in  sentiment  and  style,  if  not  in 
delivery,  he  was  a  sublime  preacher  and  poet, 
requires  no  proof  beyond  that  given  us  in  the 
last  two  chapters  of  the  Pentateueh.  As  a 
historian  and  a  lawgiver,  he  has  no  equal. 
His  fitness  to  govern,  and  his  power  to  com- 
mand, have  never  been  surpassed.  Moses, 
then,  relinquished  all  the  honor  which,  as  a 
scholar,  a  man  of  science,  a  military  com- 
mander, and  king  of  the  most  enlightened  and 
powerful  nation  under  heaven,  he  might  have 
enjoyed.  Converse  with  the  polite  and  the 
great,  even  as  their  Mentor  or  Apollo,  he 
gave  up  for  the  life  of  a  shepherd  in  Midian. 
The  crown  of  Egypt  grew  dim,  and  its  glory 
faded  before  his  eye  of  faith. 

2.  He  also  relinquished  all  the  pleasures 
which  the  absolute  monarchy  of  ancient  Egypt 
might  have  afforded.  The  Scripture  says  he 
cared  not  to  enjoy  "  the  pleasures  of  sin  for  a 
season."  How  many  wondrous  arts  for  grati- 
fying our  carnal  nature  are  known  at  courts 
of  great  kings,  is  no  secret. 

3.  He  also  gave  up  great  wealth.    There  is 


THE  REPROACH  OF  CHRIST.  487 

much  force  in  that  phrase,  "  the  treasures  in 
Efeypt."  Many  ancient  thrones  had  vast  treas- 
ures. It  was  so  with  the  Jewish  throne  in 
the  days  of  Hezekiah,  and  with  that  of  Baby- 
lon in  the  days  of  Belshazzar.  It  was  unques- 
tionably so  in  Egypt  in  the  time  of  Moses. 
During  the  long  famine  in  the  days  of  Jacob, 
Joseph  had  bought  up  all  the  land  in  Egypt, 
and  brought  it  into  the  possession  of  the  crown. 

We  have  seen  what  he  relinquished ;  let  us 
see  what  he  embraced.  The  apostle  uses  two 
phrases,  neither  of  which  sounds  sweetly  in 
the  ears  of  a  carnal  man.  The  first  is,  "afflic- 
tion with  the  people  of  God  j"  the  other  is, 
"  the  reproach  of  Christ." 

The  afflictions  of  the  people  of  God  at  this 
time  were  very  great.  They  were  in  the  most 
abject  bondage.  They  were  the  slaves  of 
slaves.  Servant^  ruled  over  them.  The  Egyp- 
tians th<  m  for  a  long  time  had  been 
nothing  but  tenants  at  will  of  the  land  under 
their  sovereign.  They  were  at  the  mercy  of 
their  monarch  lor  a  home,  for  food,  for  rai- 
ment,   and    even    fur   life.     These   were   the 

raded  people  who  were  the  masters  of  the 
Ibbnws.  Over  them  they  had  the  power  of 
life  and  death.    They  had  actually  murdered 


488      THE  EOCK  OF  OUE  SALVATION. 

many  of  them,  and  had  made  all  of  them  to 
groan  and  sigh  with  the  enormous  burdens  of 
labor  and  toil  which  had  been  placed  upon 
them.  Joseph,  who  had  been  dead  one  hun- 
dred and  four  years,  was  forgotten.  Grati- 
tude for  his  eminent  services  was  nowhere 
found.  For  Moses  to  make  common  lot  with 
such  a  people  was  an  act  of  great  humiliation. 
The  rest  of  their  condition  can  easily  be  con- 
jectured. It  was  exceedingly  dark.  No  one 
of  us  has  ever  witnessed  such  scenes  of  misery 
and  degradation.  Abject  poverty  had  wrought 
its  usual  effects.  The  Hebrews  were  far  from 
being  highly  virtuous,  as  we  might  have  hoped 
from  their  possessing  the  knowledge  of  the 
true  God.  But  few  of  them  were  truly  pious. 
The  great  mass  of  them  were  gross  and  sen- 
sual unbelievers,  who,  for  their  outbreaking 
sins,  perished  in  the  wilderness.  When  Moses 
first  appeared  among  them,  about  the  time  of 
his  forsaking  the  court.  "  he  supposed  his 
brethren  would  have  understood  how  that 
God  by  his  hand  would  deliver  them  ;  but 
they  understood  not/7  Acts  7  :  25.  Yet  they 
were  the  people  of  God  by  promise  and  by 
profession.  What  little  piety  there  was  on 
earth  was  chiefly  among  them.      They,  too, 


THE  REPROACH  OF  CHRIST.  489 

had  the  traditions  of  the  patriarchs.  They 
were  beloved  for  the  fathers'  sakes.  To  them 
pertained  the  covenant,  and  the  promise,  and 
the  ordinance  of  circumcision. 

Then  their  pretended  expectation  of  the 
Messiah  rendered  them  even  more  hated  than 
otherwise  they  would  have  been.  To  the 
Egyptians  it  looked  like  a  mark  of  special 
stupidity,  stubbornness,  and  arrogance  for  a 
people  thus  sunk  down  in  the  deepest  degra- 
dation to  be  talking  about  a  great  king  that 
should  arise  from  among  them,  be  the  King  of 
kings  and  Lord  of  lords,  and  establish  a  gov- 
ernment that  should  have  no  end  and  no 
limit — a  kingdom  that  should  rule  over  all. 
Bence  "the  reproach  of  Christ"  mentioned 
by  Paul  as  coming  on  Moses  at  the  making  of 
his  choice' 

II.  Lei  as  consider  the  elements  of  his 

CHOP 

1.  It  vras  a  choice^  a  firm  and  decided  pur- 

of  the  >/•/'//  a  hearty  and  voluntary  pre£ 

ice  <>f  one  thing,  a  cordial  and  controlling 

refusal  of  another  thing.     Paul  speaks  both  of 

I  inn]   refusing.      What  Moses  did  he 

did  ooi  by  compulsion,  nor  by  over»persua- 

sion,  but  of  choice. 

21* 


490      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

2.  It  was  a  choice  made  at  the  most  critical 
period  of  life,  when  he  was  about  to  enter  on 
a  splendid  career ;  "at  an  age  when  the  heart 
is  most  devoted  to  the  pursuit  of  pleasure, 
most  susceptible  of  the  allurements  of  ambi- 
tion.'7 

3.  It  was  a  deliberate  and  intelligent 
choice.  Nothing  in  the  existing  state  of 
things  around  him  led  to  his  decision.  The 
popular  current  was  quite*the  other  way.  It 
was  also  the  choice  of  a  man,  and  not  of  a 
child  who  could  not  understand  what  he  was 
doing.  The  Bible  says  "he  was  come  to 
years."  In  the  Greek  it  is  "when  he  was 
become  great."  It  is  manifest  from  the  Bible 
chronology  that  Moses  was  not  less  than  forty 
years  old.  Nor  was  it  the  choice  of  a  man 
who  knew  not  the  sweets  o*f  a  palace.  He 
had  been  brought  up  in  ease  and  affluence. 
He  was  not  a  rude  boor,  incapable  of  enjoying 
the  refinements  and  elegancies  which  encircled 
the  throne  of  Egypt.  Nor  was  it  the  choice 
of  a  man  whose  mind  was  soured  by  unsuc- 
cessful intercourse  with  the  world.  So  far  his 
relations,  public  and  private,  had  been  as 
pleasant  as  possible.  The  whole  history  of 
Moses   shows   him  to   have   been  a  man  of 


THE  REPROACH  OF  CHRIST.  491 

uncommon  tenderness  of  sensibility,  fitting 
him  for  intercourse  with  refined  society.  He 
was  no  ascetic.  Nor  did  he  expect  by  volun- 
tary humility  to  merit  the  favor  of  God.  Nor 
was  his  choice  that  of  an  old  man  who  knew 
that  he  could  not  much  longer  enjoy  the 
world.  Eighty  years  later  "his  eye  was  not 
dim,  nor  his  natural  force  abated."  He  was 
no  dotard.  His  choice  was  that  of  a  full-grown 
man  with  a  sound,  matured  mind,  just  as  he 
about  to  enter  on  a  course  for  life — a  life 
in  which  he  had  been  led  to  expect  stirring 
its. 

4.  The  choice  of  Moses  cannot  be  properly 
estim&ted  without  remembering  that  it  was 
not  the  pursuit  and  prospect  of  great  earthly 
advantages  which  lie  relinquished  with  the 
probability  thai  affliction  and  reproach  would 
come  in  their  room.  No:  he  gave  up  the 
actual  possession  <>f  these  good  things  with  the 
entire   certainty  that   the   evil  things  would 

OOme.  Ee  was  not  merely  in  the  high  road 
to  honor  and  wealth  and  power,  but  lie  could 
lay  his   hand  on  Iheiu  all.      He  had  "become 

,t,'"  "mighty  in  words  and  deeds;''  !)«• 
eminent  among  the  Bgyptia 

Nor  could  Moses  have  Tailed  to  remem- 


492      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

ber  that  in  refusing  to  be  called  the  son  of 
Pharaoh's  daughter  he  was  exposing  himself 
to  the  charge  of  base  ingratitude  towards  his 
royal  benefactress.  Moses  was  not  a  man 
whose  feelings  were  so  blunted  that  he  was 
not  alive  to  any  just  reproach  that  might  be 
cast  upon  him.  Indeed,  the  fourth  chapter  of 
Exodus  shows  that  he  was  a  man  peculiarly 
modest,  diffident,  and  sensitive  to  the  opinions 
of  mankind.     Yet  he  chose  as  he  did. 

6.  The  choice  of  Moses  was  an  unreserved, 
an  unconditional,  and  a  final  choice.  The 
royal  displeasure  once  incurred,  and  the  royal 
confidence  once  forfeited,  there  was  no  hope 
of  return.  He  indeed  had  no  desire  to  win 
back  the  favor  of  the  Pharaohs.  He  gave  up 
all  to  the  cause  he  espoused.  He  did  not 
even  look  back. 

7.  His  choice  was  a  gracious  choice. 
Without  the  aid  of  God's  Spirit  on  his  heart 
he  never  would  have  made  it.  Flesh  and 
blood  did  not  reveal  to  him  the  great  things 
that  lay  at  the  foundation  of  his  decision. 

III.  Let  us  now  consider  the  wisdom  of 
his  choice.  It  was  wise  then.  Moses  believed 
it  to  be  so.  His  history  since  has  demonstra- 
ted its  wisdom.     True,  he  was  forced  to  flee 


THE  REPROACH  OF  CHRIST.  493 

his  country.  Soon  lie  was  away  in  Midian. 
But  God  visited  him  there,  and  spoke  to  him 
in  the  burning  bush,  and  in  due  time  called 
him  to  be  leader  to  his  people.  In  the  maj- 
of  a  mighty  man  of  God,  he  appeared 
tie'  august  ambassador  from  heaven  at  the 
court  of  Pharaoh;  there  he  wrought  great 
wonders ;  then  in  a  marvellous  manner  he  led 
forth  God's  afflicted  people ;  became  the  his- 
toriographer of  the  world ;  gave  laws  to  the 

i    renowned    nation    whose    history   has 

reached  us ;  in  an  important  sense  he  became 

the  lawgiver  of  all  nations  ;  he  inscribed  his 

name  oil  the  pinnacle  of  fame  above  that  of 

•••untrymen  or  contemporaries  ;  he 

lid  God  and  knew  him  face  to  face  ;  he  had 
so  mueli  honor  paid  him  thai  to  hinder  his  tomb 
from  becoming  the  scene  of  superstitious  devo- 
tions, no  man  knoweth  the  place  of  his  burial 
unto  this  day.  When  he  died  God  stood  by 
him  :  wlini  lie  was  buried  Jehovah  buried 
him — an  honor  conferred  on  no  other.  A 
after  his  death  he  appeared  in  great  glory  on 

tie*  mount  of  transfiguration.     Since  that  time 

his  splendid  career  has  been  becoming  still 
more  brilliant  ;  and  \«t   it  doth  not  appear 

what    he    shall    be.    only    when    Christ    shall 


494     THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

appear  he  shall  be  like  unto  the*  glorified 
Lamb  of  God.  It  is  now  (1867)  nearly  three 
thousand  four  hundred  years  since  Moses  made 
his  choice.  Eighty  of  these  were  spent  in  afflic- 
tion and  reproach,  yet  not  without  comforts, 
joys,  and  supports  which  none  of  Egypt's 
monarchs  ever  tasted.  The  remaining  more 
than  three  thousand  years  have  all  been  spent 
in  heaven.  Yet  eternity  is  hardly  begun,  and 
the  work  of  redemption  is  not  consummated 
either  in  regard  to  Moses  or  his  race.  The 
glories  of  salvation  have  but  begun  to  be 
revealed.  Already  in  heaven  they  sing  the 
song  of  Moses  and  the  Lamb  ;  yet  what  is 
that  song  compared  to  the  hosannas  and  hal- 
lelujahs which  shall  fill  the  upper  temple  when 
the  fulness  of  the  Gentiles,  the  abundance  of 
the  seas,  and  the  nation  of  the  Jews  shall 
return  to  God ;  and  when  the  work  of  redemp- 
tion shall  be  concluded  by  the  sublimities  and 
splendors  of  the  resurrection  morning,  of  the 
judgment  day,  and  of  the  marriage  supper  of 
the  Lamb !  Could  we  ask  Moses  what  he  now 
thinks  of  his  choice,  does  any  doubt  what  his 
answer  would  be  ?  When  Peter,  James,  and 
John  saw  him  on  the  holy  mount,  did  they 
see  any  thing  in  his  appearance  that  argued 


THE  EEPEOACH  OF  CHEIST.  495 

sorrow  or  relenting  of  choice  ?   Was  his  coun- 
ance  way-worn  or  gloomy?    Bather,  was 
it  not  cheered  with  light  like   the  sun,  and 
glory  like  unto  that  of  the  angels  of  God? 

IV.  Tin:  OAUBB  of  his  choice  next  claims 
our  attention.  The  cause  of  his  choice  was 
his  faith.  So  we  are  distinctly  told:  'M>y 
i'aith  Mioses,  when  he  was  come  to  years,  re- 
fused to  be  called  the  son  of  Pharaoh's  daugh- 
The  great  object  of  Hebrews,  chap.  11, 
where  the  choice  of  Moses  is  stated,  is  to  cel- 
ebrate the  grand  achievements  of  this  illustri- 
ous grace.  The  faith  of  Moses  was  not  a  blind 
credulity  ;  it  was  not  a  sottish  superstition  ; 
it  was  a  reliance  on  the  divine  testimony 
giveD  to  the  fathers,  and  through  them  to 
their  posterity.  His  faith  looked  at  tin 
which    could    be    seen    neither    by    sensg    DOB 

-on.  lie  '•  had  regard  to  the  recompense 
of  reward" — the  reward  of  eternal  Life.  Be 
looked  bach  to  former  ages,  and  be  looked  for- 
ward to  coming  ages,    The  chief  excellency  oi 

his  lailh  was.  the  respect  which  ii  had  to  the 
Mesa iah.      Hi'  believed  all   thai   Qod  had  said 

the  Deliverer  which  ahould  arise. 
The  coming  of  Ohri  crel  anion--  the 

Jews.     It  was  always  a  pillar  of  their  faith. 


496      THE  BOCK  OF  OUB  SALVATION. 

Moses  bore  the  reproach  of  Christ.  He  "  es- 
teemed the  scoffs  cast  on  the  Israelites  for 
expecting  the  Messiah  to  arise  from  among 
them,  in  whom  all  the  nations  of  the  earth 
should  be  blessed,  'greater  riches  than  the 
treasures  of  Egypt.' -  ■  Wonderful  indeed  have 
b.een  the  effects  of  true  faith,  wherever  it  has 
existed. 

1.  True  religion  is  the  same  in  all  ages. 
It  is  based  in  the  same  principles  :  it  produces 
the  same  effects.  Whoever  properly  believes 
God  has  the  same  religion  that  Moses  had, 
and  under  fair  trial  will  prove  it. 

2.  Let  every  man  examine  himself,  and 
see  what  manner  of  spirit  he  is  of.  It  is  a 
great  mercy  when  G-od  so  deals  with  us  here 
as  to  furnish  us  a  real  test  of  our  true  char- 
acter. 

3.  The  apostle  speaks  well  when  he  tells 
us  of  "precious  faith. "  What  could  we  do 
without  it  ?  "  Faith  makes  all  evil  good  to 
us,  and  all  good  better;  unbelief  makes  all 
good  evil  to  us,  and  all  evil  worse.  Faith 
laughs  at  the  shaking  of  the  spear;  unbelief 
trembles  at  the  shaking  of  a  leaf.  Faith  finds 
food  in  famine  and  a  table  in  the  wilderness. 


THE  KEPKOACH  OF  CHRIST.         497 

In  greatest  danger  faith  answers,  I  have  a 
great  God.  "When  outward  strength  is  bro- 
ken, faith  answers,  The  promises  are  strong 
still.  Then  faith  pulls  out  the  sting  of  trouble, 
and  draws  out  the'  wormwood  of  every  afflic- 
tion." 0  let  us  have  faith  in  God.  Lord, 
increase  our  faith. 

4.  Let  us  not  be  discouraged,  however 
much  our  condition  may  differ  from  our  wishes. 
"The  life  of  a  man  does  not  consist  in  what 
he  has,  but  in  what  he  is  and  hopes  to  be." 
The  same  God  that  led  Moses  into  Midian  can 
bring  us  out  of  any  depths  into  which  affliction 
may  have  cast  us.  The  strong  arm  with  which 
God  saved  Mosea  and  his  people  is  as  mighty 
as  ev 

5.  The  wicked  one  gives  his  servants  a 
treatment  very  different   from  that  received 
by  God's  people.     "The  wages  that  Bin  bar- 
is  to  give  the  sinner  are,  life,  pleasure,  and 

profit :  but  the  wages  rl  pays  him  are,  death, 
torment,  and  destruction.  Be  thai  would  un- 
derstand the  falsehood  and  deceil  of  sin  must 
compare  its  promises  and  its  payments  to? 
gether."  But  the  Lord  gives  good  measure-, 
pre  ether  and  running  over.     In  death 

victory. 


498      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

"  How  often  has  the  gloom  which  spread 
Above  the  Christian  pilgrim's  head, 
And  darkened  all  his  earthly  way, 
Like  Israel's  beacon,  cloud  by  day, 
Changed,  as  the  hour  of  death  drew  nigh, 
To  flame  that  streamed  along  the  sky, 
And  lit  his  footsteps  through  the  night 
With  holy  fire  and  heavenly  light." 

Where  is  your  treasure?  Where  are  your 
affections  ?  If  the  earth  should  be  burned  up, 
have  you  any  thing  left  ? 

6.  Let  us  receive  the  word  of  exhortation. 
Like  Moses,  we  all  are  passing  through  scenes 
which  are  manifesting  our  preferences.  Had 
he  chosen  this  world,  how  different  his  his- 
tory, how  sad  his  destiny.  We  must  choose 
this  world  or  the  next.  The  present  is  near, 
urgent,  and  flattering  ;  but  it  is  vain,  fleeting, 
and  full  of  disappointment.  "  Our  love  to 
creatures  is  like  the  funning  of  a  stream  in  a 
channel  that  is  too  narrow  for  it,  where  stops 
and  banks  do  make  it  go  on  with  roaring  vio- 
lence. Our  love  to  G-od  is  like  the  brook  that 
slideth  into  the  ocean,  where  it  is  insensibly 
swallowed  up." 

7.  Let  us  not  be  cast  down  by  the  reproach 
of  Christ.  Others  have  borne  it,  and  even 
triumphed  in  it.  All  will  come  right  at  last. 
The  Son  of  man  has  been  here  in  weakness 


THE  KEPROACH  OF  CHRIST.  499 

and  suffering  ;  but  in  due  time  he  shall  come 
in  his  glory,  and  all  the  holy  angels  with  him, 
and  before  him  shall  be  gathered  all  nations. 
Then  it  will  be  found  an  immortal  honor  to 
have  borne  shame  and  spitting  for  him:  "If 
3  e  be  reproached  for  the  name  of  Christ,  happy 
are  ye  ;  for  the  Spirit  of  glory  and  of  God 
rcsteth  upon  you."  All  this  will  be  manifest 
in  the  last  day.  For  the  King  shall  say  unto 
them  on  his  right  hand,  "  Come,  ye  blessed  of 
my  Father,  inherit  the  kingdom  prepared  for 
yon  from  the  foundation  of  the  world.''  One 
smile  from  the  eternal  Judge  will  for  ever 
obliterate  all  painful  impressions  made  upon 
us  by  the  scorn  of  men  who  have  despised  us 
for  Christ's  sake. 

"  Under  sorrows  and  reproaches, 
this  thought  our  cour. 
Swiftly  God's  great  day  approaches  ; 
Sighs  shall  then  be  changed  to  praise. 
\W  shall  triumph 
D  the  world  is  in  a  blaze." 


500      THE  EOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 
CHAPTER  XXVII. 

CONCLUSION. 

Great  and  glorious  is  our  theme  when  we 
speak  of  Christ.  He  will  occupy  our  thoughts 
for  ever.  The  preceding  chapters  have  dis- 
cussed several  weighty  points.  The  pious 
reader  will  allow  some  brief  remarks  on  kin- 
dred topics  in  conclusion. 

I.  Union  with  Christ. 

The  New  Testament  abounds  with  teach- 
ings respecting  the  union  between  Christ  and 
believers.  Our  Lord  himself  dwelt  much  on 
it,  especially  near  the  close  of  his  life.  In  his 
intercession  he  prays  "that  they  all  may  be 
one  ;  as  thou,  Father,  art  in  me,  and  I  in  thee, 
that  they  also  may  be  one  in  us :  that  the  world 
may  believe  that  thou  hast  sent  me.  And  the 
glory  which  thou  gavest  me  I  have  given  them ; 
that  they  may  be  one,  even  as  we  are  one :  I 
in  them,  and  thou  in  me,  that  they  may  be 
perfect  in  one."  John  17 : 21-23.  The  union 
between  Christ  and  believers  is  variously  set 
forth  in  holy  Scripture. 


CONCLUSION.  501 

1.  Inspired  writers  compare  it  to  the  union 
between  the  stones  in  an  edifice  and  the  found- 
ation. By  one  of  the  prophets  Jehovah  says : 
"Behold,  I  lay  in  Zion  a  chief  Corner-stone, 
elect,  precious ;  and  he  that  believeth  on 
him  shall  not  be  confounded."  The  appstle 
of  the  circumcision  takes  up  the  figure,  and 
refers  it  to  Christ :  "  To  whom  coming  as  unto 
a  living  stone,  disallowed  indeed  of  men,  but 
chosen  of  God,  and  precious,  ye  also,  as  lively 
stones,  are  built  up  a  spiritual  house."  The 
apostle  of  the  Gentiles  employs  like  language : 
"  Ye  are  built  upon  the  foundation  of  the  apos- 
tles and  prophets,  Jesus  Christ  himself  being 
the  chief  Corner-stone,  in  whom  all  the  build- 
ing, fitly  framed  together,  groweth  unto  a  holy 
temple  in  the  Lord,  in  whom  ye  also  are  build- 
ed  together  for  a  habitation  of  God  through  the 
Spirit"  Believers  rest  their  whole  weight  on 
Christ.  This  foundation  can  never  fail.  The 
conflagration  of  the  last  day  shall  in  no  wise 
disturb  the  Rock  on  which  they  rest.  It  shall 
Maixl  for  ever.  They  are  not  dead,  but  lively 
stones,  and  are  a  habitation  of  God  through 

Spirit. 

2.  Union  with  Christ  is  compared  to  the 
union  of  the   members  in  the  human  body: 


502      THE  EOCK  OF  OUE  SALVATION. 

'  ■  Know  ye  not  that  your  bodies  are  the  mem- 
bers of  Christ? ...  He  that  is  joined  unto  the 
Lord  is  one  spirit  ; ...  ye  are  the  body  of  Christ, 

and  members  in  particular For  as  the  body 

is  one,  and  hath  many  members,  and  all  the 
memjbers  of  that  one  body,  being  many,  are 
one  body,  so  also  is  Christ."  Let  not  the  hand 
say  to  the  foot,  "I  have  no  need  of  thee;'7 
nor  the  eye  to  the  hand,  "I  have  no  need  of 
thee."  Christ  is  the  head  of  the  body,  the 
church.  So  she  is  sure  of  his  sympathy.  No 
man  ever  yet  hated  his  own  flesh  ;  neither 
did  Christ  ev#r  hate  one  of  his  own  mem- 
bers. He  regarded  the  cruelties  of  Saul  of 
Tarsus  as  directed  against  himself.  He  loved 
his  church  of  old ;  he  loved  her  unto  death  j 
he  loves  her  still ;  he  shall  love  her  for 
ever. 

3.  Christ  is  the  Husband  of  his  church,  and 
she  is  his  spouse,  his  love,  his  dove,  his  unde- 
filed.  "  The  husband  is  the  head  of  the  wife, 
even  as  Christ  is  the  head  of  the  church.  .  . . 
Husbands,  love  your  wives, ,  even  as  Christ 
also  loved  the  church,  and  gave  himself  for 
it."  No  husband  ever  loved  his  wife  as  Christ 
loved  the  church.  His  love  is  infinite,  eter- 
nal, unchangeable.     Feeble  as  she  may  be, 


CONCLUSION.  503 

she  comes  up  safely  "  from  the  wilderness, 
leaning  upon  her  Beloved." 

4.  Union  with  Christ  is  sometimes  com- 
pared to  the  union  of  the  branches  with  the 
stock:  "lam  the  true  vine,  and  my  Father 
is  the  husbandman.  Every  branch  in  me  that 
bcareth  fruit,  he  purgeth  it,  that  it  may  bring 
forth  more  fruit:  I  am  the  vine,  ye  are  the 
branches ;  as  the  branch  cannot  bear  fruit  of 
itself,  except  it  abide  in  the  vine,  no  more  can 
ye,  except  ye  abide  in  me.  Abide  in  me,  and 
I  in  you."  Thus  believers  get  sap  and  nour- 
ishment and  fruitfulness  from  Christ,  and  from 
Christ  alone.  In  the  same  connection,  the 
Saviour  says:  "Without  me  ye  can  do  noth- 
ing," No  wonder  that  the  branch  severed 
from  the  trunk  withers  and  dies. 

By  this  union  with  Christ  his  people  enjoy 
all  spiritual  blessings.  In  particular,  they 
have  pardon  by  his  blood,  acceptance  by  his 
righteousness,  renewal  by  his  Spirit,  increase 
of  grace,  divine  sympathy  in  their  sorrows, 
vi<torv  in  temptation,  support  in  death,  a  glo- 
rious resurrection,  a  public  acquittal  in  the 
day  of  judgment,  and  everlasting  life.    Sev- 

I  from  Christ,  no  man  is  strong,  or  wise,  or 
righteous,  or  holy,  or  safe.     United  to  Christ, 


504     THE  BOCK  OF  OUE  SALVATION. 

all  that  is  included  in  a  great  salvation  belongs 
to  the  believer. 

So  that  the  real  child  of  God  ought  not  to 
faint,  nor  be  discouraged.  He  may  have  the 
same  temptations  and  afflictions  as  his  Lord  ; 
but  "if  we  suffer,  we  shall  also  reign  with  him. 
If  we  deny  him,  he  also  will  deny  us."  There- 
fore, "if  any  man  suffer  as  a  Christian,  let 
him  not  be  ashamed,  but  let  him  glorify  God 
on  this  behalf." 

Thus  also  the  feeblest  child  of  God  shall 
be  tenderly  beloved  and  cared  for.  The  weak 
in  faith  shall  be  holden  up,  for  God  is  able  to 
make  him  stand. 

If  these  things  are  so,  it  is  not  wonderful 
that  God's  people  have  so  fervent  love  one 
to  another.  Their  union  among  themselves 
arises  from  their  union  with  Christ.  The 
closer  they  are  drawn  to  him,  the  nearer  they 
are  to  one  another. 

II.  Admiration  of  Christ.  The  people 
of  God  do  greatly  admire  and  wonder  at  the 
excellence  and  glory  of  Christ.  In  proportion 
to  their  faith,  they  delight  in  thinking  of  his 
all-sufficiency,  and  are  carried  away  with  their 
pious  thoughts,  their  souls  being  made  like, 
the  chariots  of  Amminadib.     This  shall  be  a 


CONCLUSION.  505 

part  of  their  employment  in  the  last  clay  and 
for  ever. 

When  Christ  shall  come  to  be  glorified  in 
his  saints,  he  shall  also  come  to  be  admired  in 
all  them  that  believe.  Even  in  this  world, 
the  people  of  God  often  forget  their  trials  by 
the  way,  and  are  lost  in  admiration  of  Christ. 
When  a  young  man,  for  seventeen  days  I 
watched  by  the  dying-bed  of  a  dear  Christian 
friend.  Shortly  before  his  death,  thinking  of 
the  Redeemer,  he  wrote  : 

What  Christian  has  not  sometimes  given 
expression  to  the  feelings  of  his  heart  in  some 
such  language  as  this:  'What  a  Saviour !> 
That  there  should  be  to  us,  lost  and  ruined 
sinners,  any  Saviour,  is  marvellous  mercy,  is 
worthy  of  our  highest  admiration  ;  but  that 
there  should  be  to  us  such  a  Saviour,  is  still 
more  astonishing.  I  have  thought  that  we 
might  have  had  a  Saviour,  who  should  have 

1 1  able  to  save  us,  and  should  have  actually 
saved  many,  and  yet  not  have  been  such  a 
Saviour.  Less  tender,  less  condescending, 
less  forbearing,  I  have  thought,  he  might  have 

i,  and  yet  have  been  a  Saviour.  It  seems 
as  if  Jesus  had  said  more  kind  things  and 
done    more   kind   arts   than   were   absolutely 

Hoc*  of  8*Jr«.  22 


506      THE  EOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

necessary  to  have  been  said  and  done  by  him. 
Need  he  have  made  that  apology  for  his  dis- 
ciples, who  could  sleep  when  he  was  in  his 
agony — 'the  spirit  indeed  is  willing,  but  the 
flesh  is  weak?'  I  wonder  how  they  could 
have  slept  in  such  an  hour  ;  but  I  wonder 
more  at  the  apology  their  Master  made  for 
them.  Need  he  have  uttered  that  prayer  on 
the  cross,  'Father,  forgive  them ;  for  they  know 
not  what  they  do  V  We  do  n't  expect  such 
things  from  the  innocent  when  dying  by  the 
hand  of  violence.  If  he  had  maintained  silence 
during  these  hours  of  inconceivable  anguish, 
we  should  have  been  satisfied.  But  Oh,  think 
of  his  forgetting  himself,  and  when  they  were 
deriding,  and  in  every  way  insulting  him, 
hear  him  meekly  addressing  his  Father  on 
their  behalf,  asking  him  to  forgive  them,  and 
pleading  for  them  that  they  knew  not  what 
they  did.  It  was  not  necessary  that  he  should 
have  paid  any  visible  attention  to  the  suppli- 
cation of  the  thief.  It  could  not  have  been 
expected  of  him.  But  that  he  should  have 
turned  his  head,  and  looked  such  forgiveness 
and  love  while  he  said,  'To-day  shalt  thou 
be  with  me  in  paradise,'  is  a  strange  mystery 
of  love.      0    'what  a  Saviour!'     Why,  he 


CONCLUSION.  507 

knows  from  experience  what  pain  is  ;  he  has 
had  the  trials  I  have  ;  he  has  been  through 
the  vale  of  tears  ;  he  knows  how  I  am  tried  ; 
he  remembers  how  he  was  tried.  If  he  never 
smiled,  yet  he  wept — even  over  the  very  city 
and  people  whose  soil  and  hands  were  about  to 
be  stained  with  his  blood.  I  wonder  I  love  him 
so  little  ;  I  wonder  he  is  not  more  precious  to 
me  ;  I  wonder  any  should  be  offended  in  him. 
How  can  he  appear  a  root  out  of  a  dry 
ground?  Why  don't  all  see  his  form  and 
comeliness  ?" 

Such  admiration  of  the  Saviour  naturally 
leads  to — 

III.  The  imitation  of  Christ. 

It  is  with  great  authority  over  the  con- 
science that  the  Scripture  says:  "Let  this 
mind  be    in   you  which  was   also   in  Christ 

as;"  and  "Consider  him  that  endured  such 
contradiction  of  sinners  against  himself,  lest 
ye  be  wearied  and  faint  in  your  minds." 
Christ's  example  shows  us  what  the  Christian 

ces  are,  and  how  far  they  are  to  be  carried. 
It  is  sometimes  said  that  there  is  a  point 
beyond  which  forbearance  ceases  to  be  a  vir- 
tue \i'  there  be  such  a  point,  surely  it  would 
have  been  reached  in  the  life  of  Christ.     But 


508      THE  KOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

where  is  it  ?  He  hath  left  us  an  example  that 
we  should  follow  his  steps.  True  Christians 
love  to  sing : 

"  Such  was  thy  truth,  and  such  thy  zeal, 
Such  deference  to  thy  Father's  will, 
Such  love,  and  meekness  so  divine, 
I  would  transcribe  and  make  them  mine. 

"Be  thou  my  pattern  ;  make  me  bear 
More  of  thy  gracious  image  here ! 
Then  God  the  Judge  shall  own  my  name 
Amongst  the  followers  of  the  Lamb." 

That  this  is  not  overstraining  the  matter  is 
evident  from  Scripture.  John  says  that  every 
man  who  hopes  to  see  Jesus  as  he  is,  purines 
himself  even  as  He  is  pure.  1  John  3:3.  Paul 
says  :  "lam  crucified  with  Christ :  neverthe- 
less I  live  ;  yet  not  I,  but  Christ  liveth  in 
me."  Gal.  2  :  20.  It  is  therefore  a  great 
fault  in  professors  of  religion  that  they  do  not 
more  earnestly  strive  to  imitate  Christ  in 
love,  and  gentleness,  in  tenderness  of  heart, 
in  submission  to  the  will  of  God,  in  zeal  for 
the  divine  glory,  in  self-abnegation,  in  silence 
under  unjust  reproaches,  and  in  all  his  imita- 
ble  virtues.  The  highest  honor  we  can  render 
to  the  Lord  Jesus  is  honestly  and  earnestly 
to  pray  and  labor  to  be  like  him. 

Of  course  nothing  distresses  the  people  of 
God  so  much  as  to  find  themselves  full  of 


CONCLUSION.  509 

imperfection,  even  after  they  have  long  been 
followers  of  the  Lamb.  They  still  daily  cry  : 
"Forgive  us  our  debts  as  we  forgive  our 
debtors. " 

Philip  Henry  says  :  "  If  my  prayers  were 
written  down,  and  my  vain  thoughts  inter- 
lined, what  incoherent  nonsense  would  there 
be !  I  am  ashamed,  Lord,  I  am  ashamed ! 
Oh  pity  and  pardon !  .  .  .  These  following 
sins  were  set  home  with  power  upon  my  con- 
science :  1.  Omissions  innumerable.  I  fall 
short  of  duty  in  every  relation.  2.  Much  fro- 
wardness  upon  every  occasion,  which  fills  my 
way  with  thorns  and  snares.  3.  Pride  ;  a 
vein  of  it  runs  through  all  my  conversation. 
4.  Self-seeking ;  corrupt  ends  in  all  I  do. 
Applause  of  men  often  regarded  more  than 
the  glory  of  God.  5.  My  own  iniquity.  Many 
babblings  up  of  heart-corruption,  and  break- 
ings forth  too.  0  Lord,  shame  hath  covered 
my  face." 

Indeed,  the  best  men  weep  day  and  night 
r  their  unbelief,  hardness  of  heart,  pride, 
vanity,  ingratitude,  discontent,  self-will,  self- 
righteousness,  irritability,  envy,  censorious- 
ness,  carnal  security,  spiritual  deadness,  lack 
of  fervor,  and  other  sins  and  short-comings. 


510      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

This  has  been  the  case  with  men  of  every 
age.  Job  says,  "I  abhor  myself,  and  repent  in 
dust  and  ashes."  David  cries,  "Mine  iniquities 
have  taken  nold  upon  me,  so  that  I  am  not 
able  to  look  up ;  they  are  more  than  the  hairs 
of  my  head :  therefore  my  heart  faileth  me." 
Isaiah  said,  ' '  Woe  is  me  !  for  I  am  undone  ; 
because  I  am  a  man  of  unclean  lips,  and  I 
dwell  in  the  midst  of  a  people  of  unclean  lips." 
Peter  "fell. down  at  Jesus'  knees,  saying,  De- 
part from  me,  for  I  am  a  sinful  man,.  0  Lord." 

The  bitterest  cry  ever  heard  on  earth  was 
that  of  the  Saviour  on  the  cross,  "My  God, 
my  God,  why  hast  thou  forsaken  me  ?"  Next 
to  this  in  bitterness  was  the  cry  of  Paul:  "0 
wretched  man  that  I  am !  who  shall  deliver 
me  from  the  body  of  this  death  ?"  The  body  of 
this  death  is  a  Hebrew  form  of  expression, 
signifying  this  dead  body.  The  language  is 
supposed  by  some  to  have  been  derived  from 
the  mode  of  punishing  murderers  adopted  by 
certain  ancient  tribes,  who  fastened  the  sev- 
eral parts  of  the  body  of  the  murdered  to  the 
corresponding  parts  of  the  murderer,  then 
confining  his  hands  so  that  he  could  not  effect 
his  own  release.  In  his  distress,  the  poor 
criminal  would  cry,  "Who  shall  deliver  me 


CONCLUSION.  511 

from  this  dead  body?  Oh  that  I  had  some 
relief.     Will  no  one  help  me  ?" 

So  Paul  cried  for  deliverance.  He  loathed 
sin.  He  hated  nothing  so  much.  Whenever 
he  contemplated  it,  it  filled  him  with  terror 
and  detestation.  He  consented  to  the  law  that 
it  was  good:  yea,  he  delighted  in  the  law  of 
God  after  the  inward  man.  With  his  mind 
he  served  the  law  of  God.  He  loved  holi- 
ness, yet  so  annoyed  was  he  by  indwelling 
sin,  and  so  violent  were  its  assaults  upon  him, 
that  he  pronounces  himself  carnal,  sold  under 
sin.  The  contest  was  dreadful,  the  war  fear- 
ful.    Nothing  was  to  him  so  offensive  as  his 

:  corruptions.  In  the  jail  at  Philippi,  his 
flesh  torn  with  the  scourges,  his  feet  fast  in 
the  stocks,  surrounded  by  the  gloom  of  mid- 
night, lie  prayed,  and  sang  praises  to  God, 
and  the  prisoners  heard  him.  He  was  in 
stripes  above  measure,  in  prisons  more  fre- 
quent, in  deaths  oft.  Of  the  Jews  five  times 
he  received  forty  stripes  save  one.  Thrice 
he  beaten  with  rods,  once  was  he  stoned, 
lli rice  he  suffered  shipwreck,  a  night  and  a 
day  had  he  been  in  the  deep  ;  in  journcyings 
■•) -il.s  of  waters,  in  perils  of  robbers, 
in  perils  by  his  own  countrymen!  in  perils  by 


512      THE  ROCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

the  heathen,  in  perils  in  the  city,  in  perils  in 
the  wilderness,  in  perils  in  the  sea,  in  perils 
amongst  false  brethren ;  in  weariness  and 
painfulness,  in  watchings  often,  in  hunger  and 
thirst,  in  fastings  often,  in  cold  and  nakedness. 
Yea.  the  Holy  Ghost  witnessed  that  in  every 
city  bonds  and  afflictions  awaited  him.  Yet  of 
all  these  he  said,  "None  of  these  things  move 
me."  But  when  sin  pierces  him  he  cries,  "0 
wretched  man  that  I  am!"  0,  it  is  a  good 
sign  to  mourn  for  sin,  and  to  long  for  holiness. 
How  sweet  heaven  will  be  to  all  weary  pil- 
grims. There  we  shall  be  for  ever  done  with 
temptation.  There  we  shall  never,  never  sin. 
There  we  shall  be  like  him,  for  we  shall  see 
him  as  he  is.  Even  now  a  view  of  him  by 
faith  has  a  transforming  power,  as  Paul 
teaches  :  "  We  all,  with  open  face  beholding 
as  in  a  glass  [mirror]  the  glory  of  the  Lord, 
are  changed  into  the  same  image  from  glory 
to  glory,  even  as  by  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord." 
2  Cor.  3  :18.  And  Paul  himself  follows  his 
cry  with  the  triumphant  shout :  "  I  thank  God 
through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord." 

IY.  Glorifying  Christ. 

If  the  views  previously  presented  are  cor- 
rect, then  it  is  true  that  all  the  saints  do 


CONCLUSION.  513 

greatly  desire  to  put  the  highest  honor  upon 
Christ — they  glorify  him.  In  receiving  honor 
from  his  people,  Christ  and  the  Father  are  not 
separated.  When  we  in  heart  honor  one  per- 
son of  the  Godhead,  we  virtually  honor  all. 
And  it  is  the  will  of  God  that  "all  men 
should  honor  the  Son  even  as  they  honor  the 
Father."  John  5  :  23.  How  full  the  Scrip- 
tures are  of  this  matter,  the  pious  reader  will 
easily  remember. 

This  truth  is  often  and  delightfully  illus- 
trated in  the  Life  of  David  Brainerd.  Under 
date  of  November  22,  1744,  he  writes : 
"Came  on  my  way  from  Eockciticus  to  the 
Delaware.  Was  very  much  disordered  with 
a  cold  and  pain  in  my  head.  About  six  at 
night  I  lost  my  way  in  the  wilderness,  and 
wandered  over  rocks  and  mountains,  clown 
hideous  steeps,  through  swamps,  and  most 
dreadful  and  dangerous  places  ;  and  the  night 
being  dark,  so  that  few  stars  could  be  seen,  I 
was  greatly  exposed.  I  was  much  pinched 
with  cold,  and  distressed  with  an  extreme 
pain  in  my  head,  attended  with  sickness  at  my 
stomach  ;  so  that  every  step  I  took  was  dis- 
m<\  I  had  little  hope  for  several 
hours  together,  but  that  1  must  lie  out  in  the 


514      THE  EOCK  OF  OUK  SALVATION. 

woods  all  night  in  this  distressed  case.  But 
about  nine  o'clock  I  found  a  house  through  the 
abundant  goodness  of  God,  and  was  kindly 
entertained.  Thus  I  have  frequently  been 
exposed,  and  sometimes  lain  out  the  whole 
night ;  but  God  has  hitherto  preserved  me, 
and  blessed  be  his  name.  Such  fatigues  and 
hardships  as  these  serve  to  wean  me  from  the 
earth  -  and,  I  trust,  will  make  heaven  the 
sweeter.  Formerly  when  I  was  thus  exposed 
to  cold,  rain,  etc.,  I  was  ready  to  please  my- 
self with  the  thoughts  of  enjoying  a  comfort- 
able house,  warm  fire,  and  other  outward 
comforts  ;  but  now  these  have  less  place  in 
my  heart,  through  the  grace  of  God,  and  my 
eye  is  more  to  God  for  comfort.  In  this 
world  I  expect  tribulation  ;  and  it  does  not 
now,  as  formerly,  appear  strange  to  me.  I 
do  not  in  such  seasons  of  difficulty  flatter  my- 
self that  it  will  be  better  hereafter ;  but  rather 
think  how  much  worse  it  might  be,  how  much 
greater  trials  others  of  God's  children  have 
endured,  and  how  much  greater  are  yet  per- 
haps reserved  for  me.  Blessed  be  God,  that 
he  makes  the  thought  of  my  journey's  end  and 
of  my  dissolution  a  great  comfort  to  me  under 
my  sharpest  trials,  and  scarce  ever  lets  these 


CONCLUSION.  515 

thoughts  be  attended  with  terror  or  melan- 
choly ;  but  they  are  attended  frequently  with 
great  joy." 

The  secret  of  this  remarkable  calmness 
and  heroism  is  elsewhere  clearly  expressed 
by  the  pious  sufferer.  Under  date  of  July 
2G,  1747,  he  says:  "This  day  I  saw  clearly 
that  I  should  never  be  happij — yea,  that  God 
himself  could  not  make  me  happy-— unless  I 
could  be  in  a  capacity  to  please  and  glorify 
him  for  ever.''  Again,  September  19,  of  the 
same  year :  "  Oh  how  I  longed  that  God 
should  be  glorified  on  earth!  .  .  .  Bodily  pains 
I  cared  not  for ;  though  I  was  then  in  extrem- 
ity, I  never  felt  easier.  I  felt  willing  to  glo- 
rify God  in  that  state  of  bodily  distress,  as 
long  as  he  pleased  I  should  continue  in  it." 
Again,  September  27,  of  the  same  year,  he 
says:  '.'I  am  almost  in  eternity.     I  long  to 

there.     My  work  is  done  ;    I  have  done 

witli  all  my  friends  ;  all  the  world,  is  nothing 

to  me.     I  long  to  be  in  heaven,  praising  and 

glorifying  God  with  the  holy  angels.     All  my 

is  to  glorify  God."     The  last  recorded 

ii  from  his  lips  are,  "I  shall  soon 

;iiY  God  with  the  angel$." 

Thus  felt  also  inspired  men  of  old:  "I  will 


516      THE  ROCK  OF  OUE  SALVATION. 

glorify  thy  name  for  evermore."  Psa.  86 :12. 
Thus  the  prophet  enjoined:  "Glorify  ye  the 
Lord  in  the  fires."  Isa.  24:15.  Thus  the 
Saviour  taught:  "Let  your  light  so  shine 
before  men  that  they  may  see  your  good 
works,  and  glorify  your  Father  which  is  in 
heaven."  Matt.  5:16.  The  sickness  of  Laz- 
arus was  "not  unto  death,  but  for  the  glory 
of  God,  that  the  Son  of  God  might  be  glori- 
fied thereby."  John  11 :  4.  Christ  and  the 
Father  are  one.  Whoever  glorifies  the  Fa- 
ther, glorifies  the  Son  ;  and  whoever  glorifies 
the  Son,  glorifies  the  Father. 

Y.  Reigning  with  Christ. 

Many  saints  have  left  the  world  crying, 
"  Come,  Lord  Jesus,  come  quickly."  The 
Master  had  come,  and  was  calling  for  them. 
The  last  words  of  Eobert  Bruce  were :  ' '  Now 
God  be  with  you,  my  children;  I  have  break- 
fasted with  you,  and  shall  sup  with  my  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  this  night."  Grimshaw  said  : 
"I  shall  have  my  greatest  grief  and  my  great- 
est joy  when  I  die.  My  greatest  grief,  that  I 
have  done  so  little  for  Christ ;  my  greatest  joy, 
that  Christ  has  done  so  much  for  me."  Felix 
Neff's  last  words  were:  "Victory!  victory! 
victory!  by  Jesus  Christ."     Dr.  Marshman's 


CONCLUSION.  517 

were  :  "  Can  you  think  of  any  thing  I  am  yet 
to  do  for  the  kingdom  of  Christ?"  Dr.  W.  J. 
Hoge  :  "I  could  tell  of  Jonathan  Edwards, 
and  of  many  wonderful  authors  and  poets, 
but  they  are  all  comparatively  low  down. 
Christ!  Christ!  0  the  glory  of  Christ." 

Though  Christ's  people  know  their  Lord, 
the  best  is  that  they  are  known  of  him. 

It  was  probably  a  part  of  a  hymn  in  use 
in  the  primitive  church,  and  is  certainly  a 
part  of  Scripture:  "If  we  suffer  [with  him] 
we  shall  also  reign  with  him."  2  Tim.  2:12. 
More  than  half  a  century  after  our  Lord's 
ascension  to  glory,  he  sends  to  the  angel  of 
the  church  at  Laodicea  this  message  :  "To  him 
thai  overcometh  will  I  grant  to  sit  with  me  in  my 
throne,  even  as  I  also  overcame,  and  am  set  down 
with  my  Father  in  his  throne"  Rev.  3:21. 
Doddridge's  paraphrase  of  this  promise  is  : 
"For  your  further  encouragement,  hear  the 
lasi  promise  which  I  make  to  all  who  exert 
themselves  in  that  holy  warfare  to  which  I 
am  calling  you  with  becoming  vigor  and  res- 
olution. As  for  the  valiant  conqueror,  I  will 
him  to  sit  down  with  me  upon  my  glori- 
ous and  exalted  throne  in  the  heavenly  world  ; 
as  I  also  myself  have  conquered  the  enemies 


518      THE  BOCK  OF  OUR  SALVATION. 

which  violently  assaulted  me  in  the  days  ol 
my  flesh,  and  am  set  down  with  my  Father 
upon  his  throne;  my  faithful  servants  shall 
partake  with  me  of  this  honor  in  the  great 
day  of  my  appearing,  and  shall  live  and  reign 
with  me  for  ever." 

Poole  explains  the  promise  thus  :  "I  will 
give  him  great  honor,  dignity,  and  power  ; 
he  shall  judge  the  world  in  the  day  of  judg- 
ment, 1  Cor.  6:3,  and  the  twelve  tribes  of 
Israel,  Matt.  19:28;  he  shall  be  made  par- 
taker of  my  glory,  John  17 :  22,  24.  But  such 
must  come  to  my  throne  as  I  came  to  it.  I 
overcame  the  world,  sin,  death,  the  devil,  and 
then  ascended,  and  sat  down  with  my  Father 
in  his  throne :  so  they  that  will  sit  down  with 
me  in  my  throne  of  glory  must  fight  the  same 
fight,  and  overcome,  and  then  be  crowned.'7 

What  is  meant  by  this  glorious  promise  is, 
and  must  remain,  very  much  a  secret,  until 
we  go  and  see  for  ourselves,  and  by  a  blessed 
experience  find  out  what  it  is  to  enter  into  the 
joy  of  the  Lord.  Even  Paul,  who  had  often' 
been  rapt  in  visions  of  the  third  heavens,  could 
tell  us  no  more  than  this :  "I  heard  unspeak- 
able words  which  it  is  not  lawful  for  a  man 
to  utter."      The  ancient  artist  drew  Helen 


CONCLUSION.  519 

with  a  veil  over  her  face,  |hus  confessing  that 
to  paint  her  was  impossible.  It  is  far  more 
impossible  for  us  to  picture  the  glories  of  the 
celestial  state.  We  must  wait  till  we  behold 
it  with  our  eyes.  Then  we  shall  say,  "The 
half  was"  not  told  us." 

"On  wings  of  faith  mount  up,  my  soul,  and  rise  ; 
View  thine  inheritance  beyond  the  skies. 
Nor  heart  can  think,  nor  mortal  tongue  can  tell, 
What  endless  pleasures  in  those  mansions  dwell. 
Here  my  Redeemer  lives,  all  bright  and  glorious  ; 
O'er  sin,  and  death,  and  hell  he  reigns  victorious. 

"  No  gnawing  grief,  no  sad,  heart-rending  pain, 
In  that  blest  country  can  admission  gain. 
No  sorrow  there,  no  soul-tormenting  fear, 
For  God's  own  hand  shall  wipe  the  falling  tear. 
Here  my  Redeemer  lives,  all  bright  and  glorious  ; 
O'er  sin,  and  death,  and  hell  he  reigns  victorious. 

"No  rising  sun  his  needless  beams  displays, 
No  sickly  moon  emits  her  feeble  rays. 
The  Godhead  here  celestial  glory  sheds  ; 
Th'  exalted  Lamb  eternal  radiance  spreads. 
Here  my  Redeemer  lives,  all  bright  and  glorious  ; 
O'er  sin,  and  death,  and  hell  he  reigns  victorious. 

"  One  distant  glimpse  my  eager  passion  fires. 
Jesus,  to  thee  my  longing  soul  aspires. 
When  shall  I  at  my  heavenly  home  arrive? 

i  leave  this  earth,  and  when  begin  to  live  ? 
For  In  re  my  Saviour  is,  all  bright  and  glorious  ; 
O'er  sin,  and  death,  and  hell  he  reigns  victorious,'' 


TJ*I7BRSir 


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